Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Herbs
Broadleaf Evergreen
Origin
Southern Europe
Southwestern United States, Texas, Mexico, Central America
Types
Melissa officinalis
Arbutus xalapensis
Number of Varieties
510
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dappled Shade, Mediterranean region, Shady Edge, Woodland Garden
limestone outcrops, Open Plains
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-97-11
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
7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Oval/Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.50 cm640.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
45.70 cm795.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Light Pink
White, Ivory
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Brown
Red, Orange
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Green, Blue Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Green, Blue Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Light Green
Green, Blue Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Green, Blue Green, Olive
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Elliptic and Ovate
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
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Deer resistant, Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Do not water frequently
In Summer
Lots of watering
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
In Spring
Moderate
Average Water
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
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 dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
Nitrogen, Potassium
-
Pests and Diseases
Gray leaf blight, Gray mold, Leaf spot, Powdery mildew
-
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
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees
Birds
Allergy
Avoid during Pregnancy, Skin irritation
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden
-
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Skin Problems
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Deer resistant, Insect Repellent
Food for birds, Shelter for wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antiemetic, Anxiety, Appetite enhancer, Digestion problems, Insomnia, Sedative
Astringent
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Fruits, Wood
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 for making wheel hubs, tool handles, Used for woodware
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable
Edible, Feature Plant
Botanical Name
MELISSA officinalis
ARBUTUS xalapensis
Common Name
Lemonbalm, balm, common balm, balm mint
Lady's Leg, Manzanita, Texas Madrone
In Hindi
नींबू बाम
Texas Madrone
In German
Lemonbalm
Texas Madrone
In French
mélisse
Texas Madrone
In Spanish
Lemonbalm
Arbutus xalapensis
In Greek
Lemonbalm
Texas Madrone
In Portuguese
Lemonbalm
Texas Madrone
In Polish
Lemonbalm
Texas Madrone
In Latin
CITRAGO
Texas Madrone
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Ericales
Family
Lamiaceae
Ericaceae
Genus
Melissa
Arbutus
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Nepetoideae
-
Number of Species
41
1
27800
👆🏻