Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Origin
Southern Europe
Middle Africa, Southern Africa, Southern Asia, Southeastern Asia
Types
Melissa officinalis
Ocimum basilicum purpurascens
Habitat
Dappled Shade, Mediterranean region, Shady Edge, Woodland Garden
gardens, Wet lands
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-9
9-11
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
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
White, Light Pink
Purple, Light Pink, Lavender
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Purple, Dark Green, Burgundy, Bronze
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Purple, Dark Green, Burgundy, Bronze
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Light Green
Purple, Dark Green, Burgundy, Bronze
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Light Green
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand, Well drained
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Indeterminate
Tolerances
Deer resistant, Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings
Rooted stem cutting, Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Requirements
Medium
Keep ground moist, Requires regular watering, Water when soil is dry
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead flowers, Remove dead leaves
Pinch or prune as they grow to promote branching and bushiness
Fertilizers
Nitrogen, Potassium
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Gray leaf blight, Gray mold, Leaf spot, Powdery mildew
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Deer resistant, Drought
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
Yes
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Allergy
Avoid during Pregnancy, Skin irritation
Respiratory problems, Runny nose, Skin rash, Vomiting
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Skin Problems
-
Edible Uses
Insignificant
Yes
Environmental Uses
Deer resistant, Insect Repellent
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Antiemetic, Anxiety, Appetite enhancer, Digestion problems, Insomnia, Sedative
Cough, Cramps, Digestive disorders, Insomnia, Skin Disorders, Vomiting
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
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
Air freshner, Can be made into a herbal tea, Used As Food, Used as a spice
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
Insignificant
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable
Bedding Plant, Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border
Botanical Name
MELISSA officinalis
OCIMUM basilicum var. purpurascens
Common Name
Lemonbalm, balm, common balm, balm mint
Purple Basil
In Hindi
नींबू बाम
बैंगनी तुलसी के पौधे
In German
Lemonbalm
Lila Basilikum Pflanze
In French
mélisse
plante de basilic pourpre
In Spanish
Lemonbalm
planta de albahaca morada
In Greek
Lemonbalm
Μωβ βασιλικό φυτό
In Portuguese
Lemonbalm
Planta da manjericão roxo
In Polish
Lemonbalm
Purpurowy bazylia roślin
In Latin
CITRAGO
Ocimum, herba Purple
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Family
Lamiaceae
Lamiaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Asterids
Importance of Lemonbalm and Purple Basil
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Lemonbalm and Purple Basil. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Lemonbalm and Purple Basil 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 Purple Basil is Cough, Cramps, Digestive disorders, Insomnia, Skin Disorders and Vomiting. Lemonbalm has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin and Skin Problems while Purple Basil has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin and Skin Problems.
Compare Facts of Lemonbalm vs Purple Basil
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 Purple Basil 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 Purple Basil have Respiratory problems, Runny nose, Skin rash and Vomiting respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Lemonbalm has no showy fruits and Purple Basil has no showy fruits. Also Lemonbalm is not flowering and Purple Basil is not flowering . You can compare Lemonbalm and Purple Basil facts and facts of other plants too.