Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Southern Europe
Europe, Morocco, Western Asia
Types
Melissa officinalis
-
Habitat
Dappled Shade, Mediterranean region, Shady Edge, Woodland Garden
Boggy areas, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Mountain Slopes, Temperate Regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-9
5-8
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
A1, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 15, 16, 17
Habit
Clump-Forming
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
White, Light Pink
White, Red, Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Light Green
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Gray Green, Dark Green
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Needle like
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Acidic
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Tolerances
Deer resistant, Drought
-
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings
Divison, Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Low
Watering Requirements
Medium
Average Water Needs
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead flowers, Remove dead leaves
Prune in early summer, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Nitrogen, Potassium
Ammonium Nitrate
Pests and Diseases
Gray leaf blight, Gray mold, Leaf spot, Powdery mildew
Armillaria mellea, Chlorosis, Crown rot, Powdery mildew, Root rot, Rust, Verticillium Wilt
Plant Tolerance
Deer resistant, Drought
Drought, Dry soil, Shade areas, Wet Site
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single, Double, Semi-Double
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
No
Foliage Texture
Medium
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Attracts
Bees
Bees, Butterflies, Moths
Allergy
Avoid during Pregnancy, Skin irritation
-
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden
Beautification, Bouquets, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Skin Problems
Skin inflammation
Edible Uses
Insignificant
Yes
Environmental Uses
Deer resistant, Insect Repellent
Food for animals, Food for insects
Medicinal Uses
Antiemetic, Anxiety, Appetite enhancer, Digestion problems, Insomnia, Sedative
Arthritis, Bladder Infection, Colic, Diarrhea, Gout, Inflammation, Kidney Stones, Rheumatism, Stomach pain, Urinary tract problems
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Flowers
Other Uses
Can be made into a herbal tea, Medicinal oil, Used as insect repellent, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in herbal medicines
Can be made into a herbal tea, Food for animals, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable
Container, Cutflower, Edging, Foundation, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Botanical Name
MELISSA officinalis
CALLUNA vulgaris
Common Name
Lemonbalm, balm, common balm, balm mint
Heather, Common heather, Ling
In German
Lemonbalm
Heidekraut
In French
mélisse
bruyère
In Spanish
Lemonbalm
brezo
In Greek
Lemonbalm
ερείκη
In Portuguese
Lemonbalm
urze
In Polish
Lemonbalm
wrzos
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Family
Lamiaceae
Ericaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Subfamily
Nepetoideae
Ericoideae
Importance of Lemonbalm and Heather
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Lemonbalm and Heather. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Lemonbalm and Heather 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 Heather is Arthritis, Bladder Infection, Colic, Diarrhea, Gout, Inflammation, Kidney Stones, Rheumatism, Stomach pain and Urinary tract problems. Lemonbalm has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin and Skin Problems while Heather has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin and Skin Problems.
Compare Facts of Lemonbalm vs Heather
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 Heather 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 Heather have respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Lemonbalm has no showy fruits and Heather has no showy fruits. Also Lemonbalm is not flowering and Heather is not flowering . You can compare Lemonbalm and Heather facts and facts of other plants too.