Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Herbs
  
Sedge or Rush
  
Origin
Southern Europe
  
Africa
  
Types
Not available
  
C. papyrus, C. papyrus 'Nanus
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Dappled Shade, Mediterranean region, Shady Edge, Woodland Garden
  
Lakes, Shores of rivers or lakes, sluggish streams and rivers, Swamps
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-9
  
7-11
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
  
12-7
  
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, 16, 17, 23, 24
  
Habit
Clump-Forming
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White, Light Pink
  
Tan
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Brown
  
Brown
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
  
Green, Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
  
Green, Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Light Green
  
Green, Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
  
Green, Light Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Ovate
  
Grass like
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Neutral
  
Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Poorly Drained
  
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
  
Indeterminate
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Deer resistant, Drought
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
  
Container, Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings
  
Stem Planting
  
Plant Maintenance
Low
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Medium
  
Average Water Needs, Keep ground moist, Requires a lot of watering
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Neutral
  
Neutral
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Poorly Drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead flowers, Remove dead leaves
  
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
Nitrogen, Potassium
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Gray leaf blight, Gray mold, Leaf spot, Powdery mildew
  
fungus
  
Plant Tolerance
Deer resistant, Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Insignificant
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Not Available
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
Sometimes
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
No
  
Attracts
Bees
  
Flying insects, Hummingbirds
  
Allergy
Avoid during Pregnancy, Skin irritation
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden
  
Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Skin Problems
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Insignificant
  
Insignificant
  
Environmental Uses
Deer resistant, Insect Repellent
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Antiemetic, Anxiety, Appetite enhancer, Digestion problems, Insomnia, Sedative
  
Cancer, Heals minor burns, Wounds
  
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
  
Stem
  
Other Uses
Can be made into a herbal tea, Medicinal oil, Used as insect repellent, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in herbal medicines
  
Constructing Boats, Used as fuel, Used in paper industry
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable
  
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Water Gardens
  
Botanical Name
MELISSA officinalis
  
CYPERUS 'Wild Spike'
  
Common Name
Lemonbalm, balm, common balm, balm mint
  
Papyrus, Wild Spike Cyperus
  
In Hindi
नींबू बाम
  
पेपिरस संयंत्र
  
In German
Lemonbalm
  
ägyptischen Papyrus-Pflanze
  
In French
mélisse
  
Papyrus égyptien
  
In Spanish
Lemonbalm
  
Papiro egipcio
  
In Greek
Lemonbalm
  
αιγυπτιακό πάπυρο
  
In Portuguese
Lemonbalm
  
Papiro egípcio
  
In Polish
Lemonbalm
  
Papiro egipcio
  
In Latin
CITRAGO
  
CHARTA
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Agaricomycetes
  
Order
Lamiales
  
Poales
  
Family
Lamiaceae
  
Cyperaceae
  
Genus
Melissa
  
Cyperus
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Cariceae
  
Subfamily
Nepetoideae
  
Cyperoideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available