Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Bulb or Corm or Tuber
Herbs
Origin
South America, Brazil
Southern Europe
Types
-
Melissa officinalis
Number of Varieties
305
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions
Dappled Shade, Mediterranean region, Shady Edge, Woodland Garden
USDA Hardiness Zone
11-154-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
12-1
Sunset Zone
21,22
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
Rosette/Stemless
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
25.40 cm30.50 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.40 cm45.70 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Red, Blue Violet
White, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Several shades of Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oblong
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial shade, Full Shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Deer resistant, Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Divison, Leaf Cutting, Seedlings, Tubers
Cuttings, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
Medium
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Partial shade, Full Shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Cut or pinch the stems, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead flowers, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
20-20-20 amount, High phosphorus, Water soluble fertilizers
Nitrogen, Potassium
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Citrus leaf miner
Gray leaf blight, Gray mold, Leaf spot, Powdery mildew
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Deer resistant, Drought
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
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
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Hummingbirds, pollinators
Bees
Allergy
-
Avoid during Pregnancy, Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bouquets, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beautification, Cottage Garden
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin, Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Deer resistant, Insect Repellent
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, Anti-oxidant, Antiviral, hepatoprotective
Antiemetic, Anxiety, Appetite enhancer, Digestion problems, Insomnia, Sedative
Part of Plant Used
Flowers
Flowers, Leaves
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Can be made into a herbal tea, Medicinal oil, Used as insect repellent, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in herbal medicines
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Groundcover, Houseplant, Tropical
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable
Botanical Name
SINNINGIA speciosa
MELISSA officinalis
Common Name
Sinningia, Gloxinia
Lemonbalm, balm, common balm, balm mint
In Hindi
Sinningia
नींबू बाम
In German
Sinningia
Lemonbalm
In French
Sinningia
mélisse
In Spanish
Sinningia
Lemonbalm
In Greek
Sinningia
Lemonbalm
In Portuguese
Sinningia
Lemonbalm
In Polish
Sinningia
Lemonbalm
In Latin
Sinningia
CITRAGO
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Lamiales
Family
Gesnariaceae
Lamiaceae
Genus
Sinningia
Melissa
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Gloxinieae
-
Subfamily
-
Nepetoideae
Number of Species
654
1
27800
👆🏻