Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Herbs
Tree
Origin
Southern Europe
Southeastern Asia, Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia
Types
Melissa officinalis
-
Number of Varieties
53
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dappled Shade, Mediterranean region, Shady Edge, Woodland Garden
Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-910-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
12-9
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
H2, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.50 cm1,370.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
45.70 cm1,520.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Light Pink
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Brown
Light Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Green, Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Green, Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Light Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Maple shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Fast
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
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Deer resistant, Drought
Wet Site, Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Water daily during growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Moderate
In Spring
Moderate
Less Watering
In Winter
Average Water
Less Watering
Soil
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
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
Aphids, Insects
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
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
Avoid during Pregnancy, Skin irritation
Nausea, Vomiting
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden
Cottage Garden
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Skin Problems
For treating wrinkles, Moisturizing, used as a dye
Edible Uses
Insignificant
Sometimes
Environmental Uses
Deer resistant, Insect Repellent
Air purification, Shadow Tree
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antiemetic, Anxiety, Appetite enhancer, Digestion problems, Insomnia, Sedative
Cramps, Dermatitis
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Bark, Fruits, Leaves
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, Making Sweet Scented Oil, Sauces, Used as firewood
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable
Mixed Border, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
Botanical Name
MELISSA officinalis
ALEURITES moluccanus
Common Name
Lemonbalm, balm, common balm, balm mint
Candleberry, Candlenut, Kukui
In Hindi
नींबू बाम
Aleurites moluccanus
In German
Lemonbalm
Lichtnussbaum
In French
mélisse
Aleurites moluccana
In Spanish
Lemonbalm
Aleurites moluccanus
In Greek
Lemonbalm
Aleurites moluccanus
In Portuguese
Lemonbalm
Nogueira-de-iguape
In Polish
Lemonbalm
Nogueira-de-iguape
In Latin
CITRAGO
Aleurites moluccanus
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Angiosperms
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Euphorbiales
Family
Lamiaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Genus
Melissa
Aleurites
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
Aleuritideae
Subfamily
Nepetoideae
Crotonoideae
Number of Species
450
1
27800
👆🏻