Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Herbs
Herbs
Origin
Southern Europe
Southeastern Asia
Types
Melissa officinalis
Ornamental Lemongrass , Citronella, Java Citronella , East Indian Lemongrass ,
Number of Varieties
55
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dappled Shade, Mediterranean region, Shady Edge, Woodland Garden
tropical grasslands
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-98-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
9-1
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
H1, H2, 12, 13, 16, 17, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.50 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
45.70 cm60.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Light Pink
Yellow
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Brown
Tan
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Blue Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Blue Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Light Green
Blue Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Long and slender with very sharp edges
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
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Late Summer, Early Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Deer resistant, Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings
Divison, From bulbs
Plant Maintenance
Low
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Keep the Soil well drained, Water Deeply
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead flowers, Remove dead leaves
Prune in the growing season, Prune in the late winter or spring, Pruning may be required for height clearance, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Nitrogen, Potassium
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Compost
Pests and Diseases
Gray leaf blight, Gray mold, Leaf spot, Powdery mildew
Pests and diseases free
Plant Tolerance
Deer resistant, Drought
Drought, Heat And Humidity
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
Flower Petal Number
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
Sometimes
Sometimes
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees
Bees
Allergy
Avoid during Pregnancy, Skin irritation
lung problems if inhaled in excess, starts menstrual flow
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden
Wild gardens
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Skin Problems
Acne, Brightens the skin complexion, Provides herbal hair care
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Deer resistant, Insect Repellent
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antiemetic, Anxiety, Appetite enhancer, Digestion problems, Insomnia, Sedative
Cough, High blood pressure, High cholestrol, Soothing and relieving pain, Sore throat, Stomach spasms, Vomiting
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
extracted oil, Leaf Stalks, Leaves, Shoots
Other Uses
Can be made into a herbal tea, Medicinal oil, Used as insect repellent, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in herbal medicines
Condiment, Oil is used in perfume, soaps, creams, etc., Used as a condiment
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
MELISSA officinalis
CYMBOPOGON citratus
Common Name
Lemonbalm, balm, common balm, balm mint
Lemon Grass, Lemongrass
In Hindi
नींबू बाम
शतवेधी
In German
Lemonbalm
Zitronengräser
In French
mélisse
Cymbopogon
In Spanish
Lemonbalm
Cymbopogon
In Greek
Lemonbalm
lemongrass
In Portuguese
Lemonbalm
Cymbopogon
In Polish
Lemonbalm
Palczatka
In Latin
CITRAGO
lemongrass
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Poales
Family
Lamiaceae
Poaceae
Genus
Melissa
Cymbopogon
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
-
Andropogoneae
Subfamily
Nepetoideae
Panicoideae
Number of Species
452
1
27800
👆🏻