Scientific name: Melissa officinalis
Family: LAMIACEAE
Common names: “Lemon balm” “balm leaf” “balm oil plant” “barm leaf” “bee balm” “dropsywort” “honey plant” “pimentary” “sweet balm” “sweet Mary” “tea balm”
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Conditions:
Zone: 3-8
Light: Full sun – part shade
Exposure: Sheltered
Soil: Average, tolerates clay
Moisture: Well drained, dry – medium, enjoys some moisture but not excessive winter wet
Aesthetic:
Plant Size: H 1-2′ W 1-3′
Leaf and Stem shape: Broadly ovate, lemon-scented leaves with scalloped edges
Flower: Leafy spikes of creamy-white or pale purple flowers in summer
Maintenance: Low – zero, harvest young leaves before they become too fuzzy,
Landscape use: Herb gardens, border fronts, groundcover, containers
Propagate: By seed and division, self sows
Pests & Disease: Nothing serious
*Deer tolerant
Comments: Very easy to grow and maintain, usually forms a nice bush from which leaves can be harvested but in the Pacific Northwest it can be an aggressive grower
