Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) – Hardy Perennial Herb (Set of 3 or 6)

Lemon balm is a hardy perennial herb whose soft green leaves release a bright lemon scent the moment you brush past them.

The leaves go into teas, cold drinks, salads and puddings, fresh or dried, and the plant is as good in a sensory border as it is in a herb bed. It is a member of the mint family and behaves like one: bushy, vigorous, and back every spring after dying away completely in winter. Small white flowers appear in summer and the bees work them steadily, though we do not tag it as a pollinator plant because it does not carry the RHS flag.

It is not fussy. Sun or partial shade both suit it, most well-drained soils will do, and once settled it copes with dry spells. It seeds itself hard, so either grow it in a pot or cut it back after flowering, which also brings a fresh flush of leaves. It grows happily on a bright kitchen windowsill as well as outdoors.

Supplied as three or six established plants in 1 litre pots, ready to plant straight out.

Cultural Information

• Common Name: Lemon balm, sweet balm
• Fully Grown Height and Spread: 60 to 80cm tall by 30 to 45cm across
• Growth Habit: Bushy, clump forming herbaceous perennial
• Perfect For: Herb gardens, borders, containers and sensory planting
• Foliage: Bright green, serrated, strongly lemon scented
• Flowering Time: Summer, June to August, small white flowers
• Planting Position: Full sun to partial shade. Drought tolerant once established and good in a container
• Soil Type: Most well-drained soils; not fussy
• Hardiness: Fully hardy
• Maintenance: Low. Cut back after flowering for fresh leaves and to stop it seeding everywhere
• Seasonal Interest: Summer
• Type: Grow your own