Life Span
Perennial
Annual and Perennial
Type
Herbs
Tree
Origin
Southern Europe
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Canada
Types
Melissa officinalis
-
Number of Varieties
58
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dappled Shade, Mediterranean region, Shady Edge, Woodland Garden
Deep, Fertile bottom land, Hilly upland habitat, Well Drained
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-96-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
8-6
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
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21
Habit
Clump-Forming
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.50 cm1,371.60 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
45.70 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Light Pink
Purple, Burgundy, Brown
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Brown
Yellow, Green, Yellow green, Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Light Green
Yellow, Copper, Orange Red
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Oblong
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Early Spring, Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Deer resistant, Drought
-
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings
Seedlings, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Requires regular watering, Requires watering in the growing season, 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
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
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, Requires little pruning
Fertilizers
Nitrogen, Potassium
Magnesium sulphate, Nitrogen, Phosphate, Phosphorous, Potassium
Pests and Diseases
Gray leaf blight, Gray mold, Leaf spot, Powdery mildew
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Deer resistant, Drought
-
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
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
Avoid during Pregnancy, Skin irritation
breathing problems, Dizziness, Itchiness, Nausea, Rash, Stomach pain, Swelling
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden
-
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Skin Problems
Good for skin and hair, Skin cleanser
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Deer resistant, Insect Repellent
Air purification, Shadow Tree
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antiemetic, Anxiety, Appetite enhancer, Digestion problems, Insomnia, Sedative
Malaria, Rheumatism, Urine infections, Vomiting
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Flowers, 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
Making Shampoo, Used As Food, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable
Edible, Feature Plant, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Mixed Border, Shade Trees
Botanical Name
MELISSA officinalis
ASIMINA triloba
Common Name
Lemonbalm, balm, common balm, balm mint
Pawpaw
In Hindi
नींबू बाम
गंदा संयंत्र
In German
Lemonbalm
Papaya Pflanze
In French
mélisse
usine de papaye
In Spanish
Lemonbalm
planta de la papaya
In Greek
Lemonbalm
φυτό pawpaw
In Portuguese
Lemonbalm
planta mamão
In Polish
Lemonbalm
pawpaw roślin
In Latin
CITRAGO
quince herba
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Magnoliales
Family
Lamiaceae
Annonaceae
Genus
Melissa
Asimina Adans
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Magnoliids
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Nepetoideae
-
Number of Species
49
1
27800
👆🏻