Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Herbs
Perennial
Origin
Southern Europe
Europe, Russia
Types
Melissa officinalis
Primula elatior
Number of Varieties
51
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dappled Shade, Mediterranean region, Shady Edge, Woodland Garden
Roadsides, sand dunes, Waste areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-94-7
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
7-1
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
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
Rosette/Stemless
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.50 cm30.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
45.70 cm25.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Light Pink
Light Yellow
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Brown
Tan
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Light Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Oblong
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Summer
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
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
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Deer resistant, Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings
Divison, Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Requires regular watering, Water more in summer
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
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, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
Nitrogen, Potassium
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, fertilize in growing season
Pests and Diseases
Gray leaf blight, Gray mold, Leaf spot, Powdery mildew
Slugs, Snails
Plant Tolerance
Deer resistant, Drought
Variety of soil types
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
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
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees
Insects
Allergy
Avoid during Pregnancy, Skin irritation
Abdominal pain, Constipation, Diarrhea, Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden
Beautification, Borders, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Skin Problems
Good for skin, Making cosmetics, Stops hair loss
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Deer resistant, Insect Repellent
Air purification, Food for insects, Versatility
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antiemetic, Anxiety, Appetite enhancer, Digestion problems, Insomnia, Sedative
Eczema
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Root
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, Medicinal oil, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable
Edging, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Mixed Border
Botanical Name
MELISSA officinalis
Primula elatior
Common Name
Lemonbalm, balm, common balm, balm mint
Oxlip, true oxlip
In Hindi
नींबू बाम
Oxlip
In German
Lemonbalm
Hohe Schlüsselblume
In French
mélisse
La Primevère élevée ou Primevère des bois
In Spanish
Lemonbalm
Primula elatior
In Greek
Lemonbalm
δακράκι
In Portuguese
Lemonbalm
Oxlip
In Polish
Lemonbalm
Oxlip
In Latin
CITRAGO
Oxlip
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Myrtales
Family
Lamiaceae
Onagraceae
Genus
Melissa
Oenothera
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
Onagreae
Subfamily
Nepetoideae
Onagroideae
Number of Species
4145
1
27800
👆🏻