Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Herbs
Tree
Origin
Southern Europe
-
Types
Melissa officinalis
Lagerstroemia villosa, Lagerstroemia subcostata, Lagerstroemia microcarpa
Number of Varieties
550
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dappled Shade, Mediterranean region, Shady Edge, Woodland Garden
Coastal Regions, Open Forest, Swamps
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-96-10
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
10-6
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, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21
Habit
Clump-Forming
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.50 cm610.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
45.70 cm300.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Light Pink
Red
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Brown
Green, Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Dark Green, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Dark Green, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Light Green
Burgundy, Dark Red
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Cylindrical
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Summer, Late Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Deer resistant, Drought
Drought, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings
From bulbs, Seedlings, Seperation, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Needs watering once a week, Requires watering in the growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead flowers, Remove dead leaves
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune to stimulate growth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Nitrogen, Potassium
fertilize every 2-3 weeks while growing, fertilize in growing season, Requires high amount of nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
Gray leaf blight, Gray mold, Leaf spot, Powdery mildew
Beetles, Insects, Powdery mildew, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Deer resistant, Drought
Drought
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees
Birds
Allergy
Avoid during Pregnancy, Skin irritation
allergic reaction, Asthma
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Skin Problems
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Deer resistant, Insect Repellent
Air purification, Food for birds, Food for insects, Nesting sites for birds, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shadow Tree
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antiemetic, Anxiety, Appetite enhancer, Digestion problems, Insomnia, Sedative
-
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Flowers, Stem, Tree trunks
Other Uses
Can be made into a herbal tea, Medicinal oil, Used as insect repellent, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in herbal medicines
Decoration Purposes, Economic Purpose, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for woodware, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable
Feature Plant, Mixed Border
Botanical Name
MELISSA officinalis
LAGERSTROEMIA 'Arapaho'
Common Name
Lemonbalm, balm, common balm, balm mint
Hybrid Crapemyrtle
In Hindi
नींबू बाम
क्रेप मेहंदी
In German
Lemonbalm
Crapemyrtle
In French
mélisse
Crapemyrtle
In Spanish
Lemonbalm
Crapemyrtle
In Greek
Lemonbalm
Crapemyrtle
In Portuguese
Lemonbalm
Crapemyrtle
In Polish
Lemonbalm
Crapemyrtle
In Latin
CITRAGO
Crapemyrtle
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Spermatophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Myrtales
Family
Lamiaceae
Lythraceae
Genus
Melissa
Lagerstroemia
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
Lagerstroemieae
Subfamily
Nepetoideae
Lagerstroemieae
Number of Species
450
1
27800
👆🏻