Melissa officinalis
Nothing reminds me of summertime quite like the fresh , citrusy scent of lemon balm .
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One of my preferred ingredients in fresh herbal afternoon tea , this often overlooked herb is gentle to grow , with a breadth of medicinal , culinary , and other US .
And it is certain to fill your garden and kitchen with the loveliest of lemony aromas .
quick to append this herb to your garden ? Here ’s what ’s ahead :
What You’ll Learn
What Is Lemon Balm?
informally know by many names such as Melissa , dulcet balm , honey plant , balm mint , garden salve , English balm , and heart ’s delectation , lemon balm is an herbaceous recurrent member of the mint kin .
It is a sprawling , bushy perennial herbaceous plant with jaggy , opposite leave-taking on square branching stems , tiny white-hot flowers , and a pernicious gamboge fragrance and flavor .
While it grows course in sandy areas , it has been school in all manner of climates and conditions , in dry , moist , and unhinged field , from the mountains to the ocean .
It has many howling utilization in food and swallow , medicine , cosmetic , and even crafts .
History and Folklore
Lemon balm is native to Southern Europe , though it has been naturalized around the globe .
Its use go out back to 300 BC , when it was used medicinally by Ancient Greeks and Romans .
The first centuryGreek physician Dioscoridesrecorded use of this herb as a remedy for odontalgia , scorpion stings , and domestic dog bites , as well as to encourage catamenia and relieve the symptoms of gout .
It was also often used to attract honeybees . This is probable where the genus nameMelissacame from , come from the Hellenic watchword “ mélissa ” or bee .
A while of Melissa would be embed near hives to encourage bee to return .
The flora likely get in in North America with the early colonists , who used it to make tea and mixture , and pull bee to hives . It also served as a maize substitute in jams and jelly .
It was list as one of the sixteen herb documented inThomas Jefferson ’s garden book in 1794 , listed under “ Objects for the garden this class . ”
In industrial plant traditional knowledge , this herb is link up with wellness , length of service , and royalty , and has been thought to have power of love , healing , and success .
Placing a sachet under a pillow filled with lemon balm is said to impart about a relaxing and rejuvenate sleep .
Lemon Balm as Medicine
Lemon balm is a lively , uplifting herb that has long been necessitate as a teatime to soothe , encourage focus , and reduce emphasis .
It has a report for subdue anxiety , restlessness , and insomnia , and has historically been used to treat stomach upset , gas pedal , and bloat .
According to David Hoffman in his book “ Medical Herbalism : The Science Principles and Practices of Herbal Medicine , ” it is also high in antioxidants , including luteolin , glucoside , and rhamnazin , and has some antiviral dimension .
The oil is sometimes utilized as an antiviral against herpes .
If you are looking for more information regarding medicinal use of this herb and others , you could see Hoffman ’s Bible on Amazon .
Medical Herbalism : The Science Principles and Practices of Herbal Medicine
Safe for consumption by shaver and adult , it makes a lovely tea leaf or tincture , is wonderful in cooking , and add a delightful fragrance to oil , salves , and software .
Lemon Balm Plant Propagation
Lemon salve is a cinch to farm , and can be propagate in a kind of ways .
From Seed
Direct sow seed in former spring by broadcasting seeds on the soil Earth’s surface or cover only lightly with soil , as this plant necessitate light to germinate .
Add compost if you like , though this herb does not require any particular dirt circumstance .
Seeds should sprout in five to nine twenty-four hours with soil temperatures ramble from 65 to 70 ° F .
you may also choose to start seedlings in flats indoors or in a greenhouse in early outpouring . Sprinkle semen in tray on top ofpotting soil , and keep them moist until they spud .
From Cuttings
Cuttings can be taken in the spring or fall . To propagate from cuttings , simply prune a few inch from the soft tips of an set up industrial plant .
In the spring , cuttings should be taken a few inch below the tips of novel ontogenesis . In the fall , they should or else come in from stems that are closer to the base of the crest that have not flower .
take away two thirds of the leaves from the base of each base , and pinch off the tips to prevent wilting .
Next , douse the prow in root hormone or beloved , and shoes in a sterile planting admixture combined with equal part coarse Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin to avail continue wet .
Water carving now and keep them out of direct sunlight .
The plants should rootle in about three to four calendar week . you’re able to also speed up the root process by rank potentiometer over a heating plant pad place to 70 to 75 ° F .
It is a good melodic theme to harden off cuttings in a smart and windy orbit for about a week before replanting out of doors .
From Seedlings/Transplanting
indurate off seedling planted in trays and started indoors by bringing them outside for a few hour each day . Move them alfresco about four weeks before the last hoarfrost day of the month .
They can be plant as before long as the soil is quick to be worked in leap . Space works 1 to 2 foot apart and water at once after transplantation .
Division
This perennial can also be easy propagated by division .
Just dig up clump of an launch plant when it ’s dormant in the early spring or fall , divide into smaller pieces , and replant either in pots or forthwith in the ground .
You canread more about dividing perennials here .
How to Grow Lemon Balm Plants
Melissa can be grow in full sun or partial shade . While adaptable to almost any grime and Dominicus shape , some the great unwashed retrieve that it can recede color if debunk to too much Dominicus , and thatsome shadecan in reality ameliorate the flavor .
An optimum growing environs for this herb includes moist soil , good drainage , and trade protection from hot weather . It is always a good idea to incorporate some compost into the soil prior to planting .
Additionally , because it has such a racy and sprawling stem system , you may implant it on a hillside to prevent erosion !
A vigorous cultivator , once institute this herb rarely needs fertilizing or much in the way of special care .
Like other pot , it has a tendency to sprawl . But unlike its creeping congeneric , lemon balm spread by source rather than via rhizomes . While it does ego seminal fluid quite well , it wo n’t take over the garden in quite the same style .
That said , it is a good idea to institute it somewhere that you are fine with it sticking around for a while with an expanded footmark ! Or you could easy grow it in container if you prefer . See more on this below .
If you want to forestall it from spread , just harvest the tops prior to blossoming so it does n’t have an chance to go to seed . Mulching will also helpto prevent seed spread .
you may thin flora throughout the season , which will keep growth in chit and assist to improve aviation circulation , especially in blistering and humid atmospheric condition .
To prune , just photograph off a stem from the base and habituate the sassy leaves immediately , or dry out them for later use .
you could thin out about a third of the industrial plant at once , taking tending to remove any leafage that are damaged or brown around the edges due to heat , inhuman , low humidness , or high steer .
This plant responds well to skip . If a plant has become overgrown , flavour stressed , or is showing signs of disease , you’re able to just cut the whole thing down to the base and wait for it to re - grow .
It will likely rise back with thicker , more riotous foliation the next prison term around .
Container Growing
Lemon unction is a great choice for container gardening , and it pairs well with summer annualssuch as dillorbasil .
To grow lemon balm in a container , plant seeds or transplants in a pot that is at least eight inches deep and 15 to 18 column inch full . Place the pot in a location that take in at least five time of day of direct sunlight a day .
Though not as flavorfulwhen grown indoors , it can also be kept inside with 14 - 16 60 minutes of artificial sparkle provided per day , if necessary .
Container plant may need to be separate in the autumn to avoid becoming root bound .
Growing Tips
Lemon Balm Cultivars to Select
For the classic mintage plant , chooseM. officinalis , availablefromTrue Leaf Market .
Its lovely lemony aroma and flavor is howling fresh or dried in food for thought , drinks , cosmetic , and medicine .
M. officinalis
hot plants and seeds are alsoavailable from Burpee .
There are also a figure of nominate cultivar usable to choose from .
Aurea
This vary lemon balm cultivar has a beautiful dark green leaf with bright icteric variegation in spring , which blow over in summer .
It is an edible ornamental with a mild flavor .
Citronella
This smorgasbord grow to 10 to 12 inch in height , and smells powerfully of citronella . It has a high crude oil cognitive content and is mildew resistant .
Compacta
If you are short on distance and worried about sprawling , this may be the option for you .
This sterile cultivar clear out at about six inches tall and 12 inches wide , and does not flower or produce seed . It has dark immature leaves and a restrained flavor .
Managing Pests and Disease
Lemon balm is not normally affected by pestis or disease .
In fact , this herb can actually repel some pests from the garden . Itcontains a chemic compound called citronellal , which is repellent to many hemipteron , and this is what gives it its delightful lemony scent .
There are just a few gadfly and diseases to watch out for :
Aphids and Spider Mites
These pesky trivial bug have been know to infest plant life , specially when get indoors or in a glasshouse .
wash plant off with a hard streamfrom a hoseor in the sink can help to slay any pests . An insecticidal soap may be used if pests are present in large numbers .
Powdery Mildew
This uncouth fungal disease can forget a milklike powdery look on the leaves . This is generally more of an yield in red-hot and humid climates with cool nights .
Septoria Leaf Spot
This fungus can get dark brown or dim spots on leave , and is rife in warm temperatures with gamey humidity . absent and dispose of infected leaves when they appear .
If the infection becomes serious , test spritz off plants with a atomiser of one gal of water , one tablespoonful of baking soda , half a teaspoon of dish scoop , and one tablespoon of horticultural oil .
Both of these disease can be prevent by offer in force melodic phrase circulation with regular harvest or pruning .
Harvesting Lemon Balm
Lemon unction can be harvested regularly throughout the time of year , though the leaves are the most flavorful when they are young and fresh .
you’re able to harvest individual folio or twig as needed throughout the season by cut several in of unexampled growth and remove the leave from the stem . Keep leaf on stems for easy drying .
Alternatively , harvest large amounts at once by cutting back the entire flora to almost solid ground level . This can be done a few times throughout the time of year .
However you prefer to harvest , this herb will provide an copiousness ! Since it grows so readily , it is a pretty difficult works to over harvest time .
Preserving: Fresh Is Best!
This herb is definitely at its heyday when it ’s clean .
It tends to drop off some of its flavor over time , though I have found that with proper preservation techniques , it is potential to love gamboge balm throughout the year .
It can be dry on trays or by hanging it in bunches in a dark place with good zephyr circulation . you could also put your harvest time in a dehydrator for 12 to o18 hours on a blue setting .
The key is to dry out it speedily , otherwise superfluous moisture on the leaves will induce it to deform brownish and turn a loss flavor .
If you are plan to dry this herbaceous plant , it is a salutary idea to harvest on a dry day so the leaf are less moist to begin with .
Once dried , strip the leaves from the stems and entrepot in an airtight glass container with a eyelid in a obscure , dry location such as a cupboard .
Get more tips on drying and storing herb here .
Lemon balm can also be icy . Chop fresh leaves , mix them with cooking crude oil or water , and freeze in glass square block trays for later use .
you may teach more about stop dead fresh herbs here .
An Herb With Many Uses
Lemon balm is one of my favorite plants to have around because I habituate it in so many different ways !
It can be used in rock oil and unguent , creams , sassing balms , hair’s-breadth rinse , steams , and baths . it is an awesome herb to contain in homemade cosmetic products .
Want to have a relaxing spa experience at home ? Try filling a mesh base with a combination of fresh or dried lemon balm , lavender , rose , calendula , andchamomile , and summate it to your next bathing tub !
you’re able to also make a floral water called a hydrosol that can be spray around the house to add a raw lemony perfume to the air .
Hydrosols are light to make and they enchant a modest amount of the flora ’s all important oil colour .
Here ’s how to make a hydrosol at house :
This plant is also great for use in cunning ! dry leaves can be used in motley and pillows , and smart or dry cuttings can be used as fragrant fillers for efflorescence arrangement and bouquets .
Try making a lemon balm lei by wind flowering stems around a wire mob basis .
Commercially , the crude oil and infusion are often used to flavour beverages , liqueur , confect , and decorative products .
Recipes and Cooking Ideas
In the kitchen , lemon balm can be add to just about anything that might taste good with a hint of lemon yellow .
make it in starter , desserts , main courses , salad , sandwiches , soup , or stews . Add it to binding , acetum , sauces , and jams .
The flowers are also comestible and can be candied or used to garnish fruit salads , potable , or desserts .
My preferent way to practice lemon balm is in iced tea . I dead bonk it commix with fresh raspberry folio and nettle . It is also pleasant-tasting blended with fatal or unripened afternoon tea .
Just throw a few smattering of fresh or dried leaves in with your favourite tea portmanteau word and usurious for five to 15 bit .
We provide steering on making lemon balm teatime here .
I also often use it as an ingredient in pesto . When I head out to my gardento cull fresh basil , I make a prompt stop by the lemon balm patch as well , and throw some foliage in the food processor for added relish !
You might also likethis recipe on our baby internet site , Foodal , for make herbal bush . expend lemon balm to create a sweet and citrusy drink vinegar that can be added to cocktails , washing soda , or other beverages .
Quick Reference Growing Guide
An Underrated Ally
Lemon balm may not be the most speak about herbaceous plant on the auction block , but it sure should n’t be overlook .
After all , what is there to lose ? Just switch out a few seeds , sit back , and watch it grow . Its muscularity and liveliness will be sure to brighten up your garden , kitchen , and home !
require toexpand your herb garden ? Then you ’ll need these growing guides :
© take the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more detail . Originally published on November 9th , 2019 . Last update April 28th , 2023 . intersection photo via Healing Arts Press and Burpee . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
About
Heather Buckner
