Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Herbs
Grass
Origin
Southern Europe
Southern Europe
Types
Melissa officinalis
Arundo, Carrizo
Number of Varieties
55
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dappled Shade, Mediterranean region, Shady Edge, Woodland Garden
Saline Soils, Sandy areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-96-10
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
12 - 1
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
3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.50 cm18.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
45.70 cm150.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Light Pink
-
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Brown
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Light Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Green, Gray Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Linear
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Fast
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
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Late Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Deer resistant, Drought
Wet Site, Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings
From Rhizomes, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
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
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead flowers, Remove dead leaves
Do not prune during shooting season, Prune after harvesting, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Nitrogen, Potassium
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring
Pests and Diseases
Gray leaf blight, Gray mold, Leaf spot, Powdery mildew
-
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
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
Sometimes
Sometimes
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees
Bees, Birds, Hummingbirds
Allergy
Avoid during Pregnancy, Skin irritation
allergic conjunctivitis, flushing of face, wheezing
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden
Beautification, Bonsai
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Skin Problems
Making cosmetics, Skin cleanser
Edible Uses
Insignificant
Sometimes
Environmental Uses
Deer resistant, Insect Repellent
Agroforestry, Air purification, Nesting sites for birds, No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shadow Tree, soil stabilisation
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antiemetic, Anxiety, Appetite enhancer, Digestion problems, Insomnia, Sedative
Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Emmoiliant
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Bark, Sap
Other Uses
Can be made into a herbal tea, Medicinal oil, Used as insect repellent, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in herbal medicines
Basketary, Showy Purposes, Used in making musical instruments, Wood is used in construction
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable
Container, Cutflower, Dried Flower/Everlasting, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical, Water Gardens
Botanical Name
MELISSA officinalis
ARUNDO donax
Common Name
Lemonbalm, balm, common balm, balm mint
Giant Reed
In Hindi
नींबू बाम
नरकट
In German
Lemonbalm
Pfahlrohr
In French
mélisse
Arundo donax
In Spanish
Lemonbalm
Arundo donax
In Greek
Lemonbalm
Arundo donax
In Portuguese
Lemonbalm
Cana-do-reino
In Polish
Lemonbalm
Lasecznica trzcinowata
In Latin
CITRAGO
Arundo donax
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Angiosperms
Class
Magnoliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Cyperales
Family
Lamiaceae
Poaceae
Genus
Melissa
Arundo
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Commelinids
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Nepetoideae
-
Number of Species
43
1
27800
👆🏻