Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Herbs
Tree
Origin
Southern Europe
Africa, India, Southeast Asia
Types
Melissa officinalis
Sweet Tamarind, Australian tamarind, Manila tamarind, Velvet tamarind, Spanish Tamarind
Number of Varieties
5100
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dappled Shade, Mediterranean region, Shady Edge, Woodland Garden
Subtropical climates, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-99-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
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
12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Spreading
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.50 cm1,800.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
45.70 cm800.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Light Pink
Red, Yellow
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Brown
Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Dark Green, Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Light Green
Dark Green, Yellow green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Dark Brown, Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Pinnate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Slow
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Acidic
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Late Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Deer resistant, Drought
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings
Layering, Seedlings, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Do Not over Water, Keep the ground moist but not water-logged
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral
Acidic
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
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
6-6-6 or 8-8-8
Pests and Diseases
Gray leaf blight, Gray mold, Leaf spot, Powdery mildew
Aphids, Borers, Mealybugs, Onion thrips, Root weevil, Soft scales, Whiteflies
Plant Tolerance
Deer resistant, Drought
Drought
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
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees
Beetles, Birds, Scale Insects
Allergy
Avoid during Pregnancy, Skin irritation
Diarrhea, Hives, Nausea, Vomiting
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden
Beautification
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Skin Problems
Glowing Skin, Good for skin, Improve skin tone, Reduces ageing, Skin cleanser
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Deer resistant, Insect Repellent
Food for animals, Food for birds, Food for insects, Nesting sites for birds
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antiemetic, Anxiety, Appetite enhancer, Digestion problems, Insomnia, Sedative
Antioxidants, Inflammation, Rheumatism, Skin Disorders, Sore throat
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
Culinary use, Used as a nutritious food item, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable
Edible, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Shade Trees
Botanical Name
MELISSA officinalis
Tamarindus indica
Common Name
Lemonbalm, balm, common balm, balm mint
Tamarind tree, Tamarind
In Hindi
नींबू बाम
इमली का पेड़
In German
Lemonbalm
Tamarinde
In French
mélisse
tamarinier
In Spanish
Lemonbalm
tamarindo
In Greek
Lemonbalm
δέντρο Tamarind
In Portuguese
Lemonbalm
tamarindo
In Polish
Lemonbalm
drzewo tamaryndowca
In Latin
CITRAGO
tamarind ligno
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Fabales
Family
Lamiaceae
Fabaceae
Genus
Melissa
Tamarindus
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
Detarieae
Subfamily
Nepetoideae
Caesalpinioideae
Number of Species
4100
1
27800
👆🏻