Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Herbs
Fruit
Origin
Southern Europe
Europe, Western Asia
Types
Melissa officinalis
Green Anjou, Red Anjou, Bartlett
Number of Varieties
53000
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dappled Shade, Mediterranean region, Shady Edge, Woodland Garden
Humid climates, moist forests
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-93-8
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
9-5
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, 15, 16, 17, 18
Habit
Clump-Forming
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.50 cm1,219.20 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
45.70 cm800.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Light Pink
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Brown
White, Yellow, Red, Green, Yellow green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Light Pink, Red, Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Light Green
Purple, Dark Green, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Oval with a pointed tip and fine teeth along their edges
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Early Spring, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loamy, Sandy
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Acidic
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Fall, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Deer resistant, Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings
Grafting, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Medium, Water less during winter, Water more in summer, when new, water every week
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral
-
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
-
Soil Drainage Capacity
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
Ammonium Nitrate, Fertilize the soil before planting
Pests and Diseases
Gray leaf blight, Gray mold, Leaf spot, Powdery mildew
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Deer resistant, Drought
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
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees
Aphids, Birds, Butterflies, Pear psylla
Allergy
Avoid during Pregnancy, Skin irritation
Anaphylaxis, Digestive Problems, Itchiness, Swelling
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden
Cottage Garden
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Skin Problems
Good for skin, Improve skin tone, Making cosmetics, Moisturizing, Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Deer resistant, Insect Repellent
Air purification, Shadow Tree
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antiemetic, Anxiety, Appetite enhancer, Digestion problems, Insomnia, Sedative
Cancer, Cardiovascular problems, cholesterol-lowering, Detox, Diabetes, Energy, Fiber, Heart problems, High blood pressure, Obesity, Treating diverticulosis, Weight loss
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
Used As Food
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable
-
Botanical Name
MELISSA officinalis
PYRUS communis
Common Name
Lemonbalm, balm, common balm, balm mint
Pear
In Hindi
नींबू बाम
नाशपाती
In German
Lemonbalm
Birne
In French
mélisse
Poire
In Spanish
Lemonbalm
Pera
In Greek
Lemonbalm
Αχλάδι
In Portuguese
Lemonbalm
Pera
In Polish
Lemonbalm
Gruszka
In Latin
CITRAGO
Orbis
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Vascular plant
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Rosales
Family
Lamiaceae
Rosaceae
Genus
Melissa
Pyrus
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
Maleae
Subfamily
Nepetoideae
Amygdaloideae
Number of Species
430
1
27800
👆🏻