Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Southern Europe
South-Eastern Asia, Southeastern Asia, Polynesia
Types
Melissa officinalis
Gold Dust Croton, Banana Croton
Habitat
Dappled Shade, Mediterranean region, Shady Edge, Woodland Garden
Along Railroads, Pastures, Roadsides, Sandy areas, Waste areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-9
9-15
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, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Upright/Erect
Flower Color
White, Light Pink
White, Yellow
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
White, Yellow, Purple, Orange, Light Green, Chartreuse, Lime Green, Dark Green, Light Yellow, Lemon yellow, Yellow green, Gold
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Chartreuse, Lime Green, Dark Green, Light Yellow, Lemon yellow, Yellow green, Gold, Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Crimson, Dark Red, Copper, Bronze, Orange Red, Ivory
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Light Green
White, Yellow, Purple, Orange, Light Green, Chartreuse, Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Crimson, Dark Red, Copper, Bronze, Orange Red, Ivory
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
White, Yellow, Purple, Orange, Light Green, Gold, Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Crimson, Dark Red, Copper, Bronze, Orange Red, Ivory
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Long Elliptic
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
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Tolerances
Deer resistant, Drought
Cold climate
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Requirements
Medium
Requires consistently moist soil, Requires regular watering, Requires watering in the growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Less Watering
Soil pH
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
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
Prune in spring, Remove branches that rub together
Fertilizers
Nitrogen, Potassium
Less fertilizing
Pests and Diseases
Gray leaf blight, Gray mold, Leaf spot, Powdery mildew
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Deer resistant, Drought
Drought
Flowers
Insignificant
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
Yes
Foliage Texture
Medium
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Attracts
Bees
Butterflies, Insects
Allergy
Avoid during Pregnancy, Skin irritation
Dizziness, Eczema, Itchiness, Skin irritation, Skin rash, Vomiting
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Skin Problems
Improve hair condition, Skin Problems
Edible Uses
Insignificant
Yes
Environmental Uses
Deer resistant, Insect Repellent
Air purification, Prevent Soil Erosion
Medicinal Uses
Antiemetic, Anxiety, Appetite enhancer, Digestion problems, Insomnia, Sedative
Bronchitis, Gallbladder Diseases, Gout, Joint pain, Malaria, Nerve pain, Upset stomach
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Seeds, Whole plant
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, Employed in herbal medicine, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable
Container, Cutflower, Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Screening, Wind Break, Tropical
Botanical Name
MELISSA officinalis
CODIAEUM variegatum
Common Name
Lemonbalm, balm, common balm, balm mint
Rushfoil, Croton
In Hindi
नींबू बाम
क्रोटोन प्लांट
In German
Lemonbalm
Kroton
In Spanish
Lemonbalm
Croton Planta
In Greek
Lemonbalm
Κρότωνα φυτών
In Portuguese
Lemonbalm
cróton
In Polish
Lemonbalm
Kroto roślin
In Latin
CITRAGO
Planta Croton
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Malpighiales
Family
Lamiaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Subfamily
Nepetoideae
Crotonoideae
Importance of Lemonbalm and Croton
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Lemonbalm and Croton. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Lemonbalm and Croton 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 Croton is Bronchitis, Gallbladder Diseases, Gout, Joint pain, Malaria, Nerve pain and Upset stomach. Lemonbalm has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin and Skin Problems while Croton has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin and Skin Problems.
Compare Facts of Lemonbalm vs Croton
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 Croton 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 Croton have Dizziness, Eczema, Itchiness, Skin irritation, Skin rash and Vomiting respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Lemonbalm has no showy fruits and Croton has no showy fruits. Also Lemonbalm is not flowering and Croton is not flowering . You can compare Lemonbalm and Croton facts and facts of other plants too.