Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Herbs
Tender Perennial
Origin
Southern Europe
Southern Africa
Types
Melissa officinalis
Perennial
Habitat
Dappled Shade, Mediterranean region, Shady Edge, Woodland Garden
Desert, Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-9
8-10
Sunset Zone
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
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
White, Light Pink
Yellow, Light Yellow, Brown
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Brown
Green, Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Light Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Light Green
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Grass like
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Indeterminate
Tolerances
Deer resistant, Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings
Rhizome division, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Requirements
Medium
Requires regular watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead flowers, Remove dead leaves
Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Nitrogen, Potassium
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Gray leaf blight, Gray mold, Leaf spot, Powdery mildew
Nematodes, Scale
Plant Tolerance
Deer resistant, Drought
Drought
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
No
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Attracts
Bees
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
Avoid during Pregnancy, Skin irritation
Skin irritation
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Skin Problems
-
Edible Uses
Insignificant
No
Environmental Uses
Deer resistant, Insect Repellent
Ethnobotanic
Medicinal Uses
Antiemetic, Anxiety, Appetite enhancer, Digestion problems, Insomnia, Sedative
-
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Root
Other Uses
Can be made into a herbal tea, Medicinal oil, Used as insect repellent, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in herbal medicines
Roots were worn to protect and strengthen the wearer, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Tropical, Water Gardens
Botanical Name
MELISSA officinalis
DIETES bicolor
Common Name
Lemonbalm, balm, common balm, balm mint
African iris, Fortnight lily
In Hindi
नींबू बाम
African Iris
In German
Lemonbalm
Afrikanische Iris
In French
mélisse
African Iris
In Spanish
Lemonbalm
Iris africano
In Greek
Lemonbalm
Αφρικανική Iris
In Portuguese
Lemonbalm
Iris africano
In Polish
Lemonbalm
Afryki Iris
In Latin
CITRAGO
African Iris
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Asparagales
Family
Lamiaceae
Iridaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Subfamily
Nepetoideae
Iridoideae
Importance of Lemonbalm and African Iris
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Lemonbalm and African Iris. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Lemonbalm and African Iris as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Lemonbalm is Antiemetic, Anxiety, Appetite enhancer, Digestion problems, Insomnia and Sedative whereas of African Iris is . Lemonbalm has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin and Skin Problems while African Iris has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin and Skin Problems.
Compare Facts of Lemonbalm vs African Iris
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Lemonbalm vs African Iris and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Lemonbalm are Avoid during Pregnancy and Skin irritation whereas of African Iris have Skin irritation respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Lemonbalm has no showy fruits and African Iris has no showy fruits. Also Lemonbalm is not flowering and African Iris is not flowering . You can compare Lemonbalm and African Iris facts and facts of other plants too.