Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Fruit
  
Herbs
  
Origin
Southern Asia, India, Melanesia, Australia
  
Southern Europe
  
Types
Not Available
  
Not available
  
Habitat
Well Drained
  
Dappled Shade, Mediterranean region, Shady Edge, Woodland Garden
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-11
  
4-9
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
  
12-1
  
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Oval or Rounded
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White, Purple
  
White, Light Pink
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Yellow
  
Brown
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
  
Green, Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
  
Green, Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
  
Green, Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
  
Light Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Oval
  
Ovate
  
Thorns
Yes
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Medium
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring, Winter, Late Winter, Indeterminate
  
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Deer resistant, Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Budding, Cuttings
  
Cuttings, Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Low
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Keep the Soil well drained, Requires watering in the growing season
  
Medium
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Neutral
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Pruning
Prune in spring, Remove branches, Remove branches that rub together, Remove crossing or rubbing branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
  
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead flowers, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, fertilize in spring, fertilize in summer, organic fertlizers
  
Nitrogen, Potassium
  
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
  
Gray leaf blight, Gray mold, Leaf spot, Powdery mildew
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Deer resistant, Drought
  
Flowers
Yes
  
Insignificant
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
Yes
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Foliage
No
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
  
Bees
  
Allergy
Asthma
  
Avoid during Pregnancy, Skin irritation
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
  
Beautification, Cottage Garden
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Good for skin, Skin Problems
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Insignificant
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Deer resistant, Insect Repellent
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Respiratory Disorders, Soothing and relieving pain
  
Antiemetic, Anxiety, Appetite enhancer, Digestion problems, Insomnia, Sedative
  
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Fruits
  
Flowers, Leaves
  
Other Uses
Making Perfumes, Traditional medicine, Used As Food, Used for its medicinal properties
  
Can be made into a herbal tea, Medicinal oil, Used as insect repellent, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in herbal medicines
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Feature Plant, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Hedges, Houseplant, Shade Trees, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier, Tropical
  
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable
  
Botanical Name
CITRUS medica var. sarcodactylis
  
MELISSA officinalis
  
Common Name
Buddha's Hand, Fingered Citron
  
Lemonbalm, balm, common balm, balm mint
  
In Hindi
Buddha's Hand
Tree
  
नींबू बाम
  
In German
Buddhas Hand
Baum
  
Lemonbalm
  
In French
Main de Bouddha
Arbre
  
mélisse
  
In Spanish
Mano de Buda
Árbol
  
Lemonbalm
  
In Greek
Χέρι του Βούδα
Δέντρο
  
Lemonbalm
  
In Portuguese
Mão de Buda
Árvore
  
Lemonbalm
  
In Polish
Ręka Buddy
Drzewo
  
Lemonbalm
  
In Latin
Buddha manus
Arbor
  
CITRAGO
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Not Available
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Not Available
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Sapindales
  
Lamiales
  
Family
Rutaceae
  
Lamiaceae
  
Genus
Citrus
  
Melissa
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Nepetoideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available