Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Herbs
  
Herbs
  
Origin
Southern Europe
  
China, Japan, Korea
  
Types
Not available
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Dappled Shade, Mediterranean region, Shady Edge, Woodland Garden
  
gardens, Grassland, Homesteads, Open areas
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-9
  
5-9
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
  
9-4
  
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, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Clump-Forming
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White, Light Pink
  
Light Yellow, Ivory
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Brown
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
  
Green, Light Green, Light Yellow, Ivory
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
  
Green, Light Yellow, Ivory
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Light Green
  
Green, Light Yellow, Ivory
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
  
Not Available
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Ovate
  
Round
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Partial shade, Full Shade
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Poorly Drained
  
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
  
Early Spring, Late Winter
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Deer resistant, Drought
  
Wet Site
  
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings
  
Divison, Stem Planting
  
Plant Maintenance
Low
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Medium
  
Allow soil to be completely dry in between waterings, Keep ground moist, Needs 2-3 times watering per week, Over-head watering, Requires watering in the growing season
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Poorly Drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Partial shade, Full Shade
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead flowers, Remove dead leaves
  
Remove deadheads, Requires very little pruning, Shape and thin as needed
  
Fertilizers
Nitrogen, Potassium
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Gray leaf blight, Gray mold, Leaf spot, Powdery mildew
  
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Deer resistant, Drought
  
Wet Site
  
Flowers
Insignificant
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Not Available
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Bold
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
Sometimes
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
No
  
Attracts
Bees
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
Avoid during Pregnancy, Skin irritation
  
no allergic reactions
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden
  
Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Skin Problems
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Insignificant
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Deer resistant, Insect Repellent
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Antiemetic, Anxiety, Appetite enhancer, Digestion problems, Insomnia, Sedative
  
No Medicinal Use
  
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
  
Whole plant
  
Other Uses
Can be made into a herbal tea, Medicinal oil, Used as insect repellent, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in herbal medicines
  
Not Available
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable
  
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Water Gardens
  
Botanical Name
MELISSA officinalis
  
PETASITES japonicus 'Variegatus'
  
Common Name
Lemonbalm, balm, common balm, balm mint
  
Giant Butterbur, Japanese Butterbur, Variegated Butterbur
  
In Hindi
नींबू बाम
  
variegated butterbur
  
In German
Lemonbalm
  
bunte Pestwurz
  
In French
mélisse
  
pétasite panachée
  
In Spanish
Lemonbalm
  
butterbur abigarrado
  
In Greek
Lemonbalm
  
διαφοροποιημένα butterbur
  
In Portuguese
Lemonbalm
  
butterbur variegada
  
In Polish
Lemonbalm
  
barwny Lepiężnik
  
In Latin
CITRAGO
  
varius butterbur
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Not Available
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Not Available
  
Order
Lamiales
  
Asterales
  
Family
Lamiaceae
  
Asteraceae
  
Genus
Melissa
  
Petasites
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Senecioneae
  
Subfamily
Nepetoideae
  
Not Available