Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Herbs
Tender Perennial
Origin
Southern Europe
Madagascar
Types
Melissa officinalis
-
Habitat
Dappled Shade, Mediterranean region, Shady Edge, Woodland Garden
subtropical regions, Tropical areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-9
9-15
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, A2, A3, H1, H2, 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
Habit
Clump-Forming
Oval or Rounded
Flower Color
White, Light Pink
Red, Pink, Peach
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Light Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Dark Green
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Elliptic and Ovate
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Indeterminate
Tolerances
Deer resistant, Drought
Pollution, Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings
Cuttings, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Requirements
Medium
Do not water excessively, Needs less watering, Needs small amount of water
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, 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
aster yellow, Leaf spot, Red blotch, Root rot, Slugs, Snails, Stem rot
Plant Tolerance
Deer resistant, Drought
Drought, Pollution, Salt
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
No
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Invasive
Sometimes
Sometimes
Attracts
Bees
Butterflies
Allergy
Avoid during Pregnancy, Skin irritation
Toxic if not prepared properly
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden
Beautification, Borders, Decorating walls, Ground Cover, Hanging Basket, Used for decorating walls, fences, gates, hedges, etc.
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Skin Problems
-
Edible Uses
Insignificant
Sometimes
Environmental Uses
Deer resistant, Insect Repellent
Air purification, Food for animals, Food for birds
Medicinal Uses
Antiemetic, Anxiety, Appetite enhancer, Digestion problems, Insomnia, Sedative
Cancer, Diabetes, Hodgkin's lymphoma., Leukemia, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Flowering Tips, Leaves, stalk
Other Uses
Can be made into a herbal tea, Medicinal oil, Used as insect repellent, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in herbal medicines
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Traditional medicine, Use in Chinese herbology
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
Sometimes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable
Bedding Plant, Container, Hanging Basket, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
MELISSA officinalis
CATHARANTHUS roseus
Common Name
Lemonbalm, balm, common balm, balm mint
Cooler Apricot Vinca, Madagascar Periwinkle, Vinca
In German
Lemonbalm
Rosafarbene Catharanthe
In French
mélisse
Pervenche de Madagascar
In Spanish
Lemonbalm
Catharanthus roseus
In Greek
Lemonbalm
Catharanthus roseus
In Portuguese
Lemonbalm
Catharanthus roseus
In Polish
Lemonbalm
Katarantus różowy
In Latin
CITRAGO
Catharanthus roseus
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Gentianales
Family
Lamiaceae
Apocynaceae
Genus
Melissa
Catharanthus
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Subfamily
Nepetoideae
Rauvolfioideae
Importance of Lemonbalm and Madagascar Periwinkle
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Lemonbalm and Madagascar Periwinkle. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Lemonbalm and Madagascar Periwinkle 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 Madagascar Periwinkle is Cancer, Diabetes, Hodgkin's lymphoma., Leukemia and Sore throat. Lemonbalm has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin and Skin Problems while Madagascar Periwinkle has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin and Skin Problems.
Compare Facts of Lemonbalm vs Madagascar Periwinkle
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 Madagascar Periwinkle 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 Madagascar Periwinkle have Toxic if not prepared properly respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Lemonbalm has no showy fruits and Madagascar Periwinkle has no showy fruits. Also Lemonbalm is not flowering and Madagascar Periwinkle is not flowering . You can compare Lemonbalm and Madagascar Periwinkle facts and facts of other plants too.