Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Herbs
Tender Perennial
Origin
Southern Europe
Mexico, Central America
Types
Melissa officinalis
-
Number of Varieties
550
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dappled Shade, Mediterranean region, Shady Edge, Woodland Garden
agricultural areas, Loamy soils, Warmer regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-910-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
12-1
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
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Spreading
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.50 cm30.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
45.70 cm60.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Light Pink
Fuchsia
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Brown
-
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
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Oval Cordate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Deer resistant, Drought
Dry Conditions, Soil Compaction, Sun
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Do not let dry out between waterings, Do not water the foliage
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
Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead flowers, Remove dead leaves
A hard prune may be necessary if the plant becomes woody, Cut upper 1/3 section when young to enhancegrowth
Fertilizers
Nitrogen, Potassium
Fertilize every three months
Pests and Diseases
Gray leaf blight, Gray mold, Leaf spot, Powdery mildew
Bacteria, Birds, Fungal Diseases, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Deer resistant, Drought
Dry Conditions, Full Sun, Salt and Soil Compaction
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
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
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees
Beetles, Bugs, Insects
Allergy
Avoid during Pregnancy, Skin irritation
Acidic, allergic conjunctivitis
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden
Beautification, Hanging Basket, Landscape Designing
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Skin Problems
Makes Hair Silkier, Making cosmetics
Edible Uses
Insignificant
Sometimes
Environmental Uses
Deer resistant, Insect Repellent
Forms dense stands, Provides ground cover, soil stabilisation
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antiemetic, Anxiety, Appetite enhancer, Digestion problems, Insomnia, Sedative
-
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Leaves, Stem
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, Cosmetics, Showy Purposes
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable
Bedding Plant, Container, Groundcover, Hanging Basket, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
MELISSA officinalis
HETEROCENTRON elegans
Common Name
Lemonbalm, balm, common balm, balm mint
Spanish Shawl
In Hindi
नींबू बाम
Heterocentron
In German
Lemonbalm
Heterocentron
In French
mélisse
Heterocentron
In Spanish
Lemonbalm
Heterocentron
In Greek
Lemonbalm
Heterocentron
In Portuguese
Lemonbalm
Heterocentron
In Polish
Lemonbalm
Heterocentron
In Latin
CITRAGO
Heterocentron
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Myrtales
Family
Lamiaceae
Melastomataceae
Genus
Melissa
Heterocentron
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
-
Abreae
Subfamily
Nepetoideae
-
Number of Species
4200
1
27800
👆🏻