Melissa Plant Growing & Care Guide for Gardeners
Article by Dean Ravenscroft, Ph.D. - Updated 28th Oct 2023
In this Gardener's HQ guide, we'll explore cultivating Melissa plants in your garden, indoor spaces, and other settings.
- Plant Characteristics: Melissa showcases delicate white flowers and leaves with a lemony scent. Gardeners appreciate its ability to attract bees and for its use in herbal teas and culinary dishes.
- Ideal Growing Conditions: Will thrive in well-draining soil, ideally in partial shade. Benefits from regular watering, especially in dry conditions.
- General Care: Pruning after flowering promotes new growth and helps to prevent plants from becoming leggy. Avoid over-fertilizing.
- Tips for New Gardeners: Lemon balm is a resilient herb that is great for novice gardeners. Keep it contained to avoid it spreading out of control. Generally pest-free, but check for occasional aphids.
Lemon balm: Cultivation & Garden Use
Members of the Melissa plant genus are perennial herbs that are often used in cooking. They reach a height of up to 60 cm (2 feet).
They flower from summer through to autumn, and have an appearance similar to that of mint plants.
Some of the common names for members of Melissa plant genus include balm, Lemon Balm and Sweet balm.
Melissa officinalis photograph by sermarr erGuiri
If you plan to use Balm in the kitchen, then the leaves can be used fresh or dried.
They should be removed just before the plant blooms for best flavor.
Lemon balm picture by Color line.
If you need to dry the Lemon balm leaves, then do so as quickly as possible. This should be done at a temperature of at least 33 degrees centigrade (92°F).
Store the dried Lemon Balm leaves in an air tight container, and use when required.
Commonly Grown Melissa Species Photographs and Plant Identification
Melissa officinalis
Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm, Balm gentle), photograph by Gertjan van Noord; CC.
Melissa officinalis, Lemon Balm flowers, picture by Christoph Zurnieden; CC.
The other species in this genus are Melissa axillaris (Small-Flowered Melissa), Melissa flava, and Melissa yunnanensis
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Melissa Growing and Care Guide
Common Names: Balm: Lemon; Sweet.Life Cycle: Hardy perennial.
Height: Up to 24 inches (60 cm).
Native: Southern Europe. Western Asia.
Growing Region: Zones 4 to 9.
Flowers: Early summer until autumn.
Flower Details: Small white or yellow.
Foliage: Opposite. Toothed. Oval to cordate. Lemon-like fragrance.
Sow Outside: Seeds: Surface. Late autumn. Spacing 18 to 24 inches (45 to 60 cm).
Sow Inside: Germination time: 2 to 3 weeks. Temperature: 70°F (21°C) in the light. Seven or eight weeks in advance. Transplant outdoors following the last frost.
Requirements and care: Full sunlight or light shade. Soil pH 6.0 to 7.5. Sandy soil. Dry soil.
Propagate: by dividing at the start of spring or by taking stem cuttings in the spring and summer. Self-seeds easily and may become invasive.
Family: Lamiaceae.
Miscellaneous: Produces more aromatic leaves when grown in poor soils. Often used for culinary purposes where it is treasured for its lemony flavor, especially in tea. Sprigs are often used as a salad garnish. Harvest leaves before or at the time of blooming. Use fresh or dry at a temperature of 90°F (32°C). Flowers attract bees.
How to Grow Lemon Balm and other Melissa Plants in the Garden
When growing lemon balm and other Melissa plants outdoors, the seeds should be sown on the surface towards the end of autumn.
Lemon balm plants can grow in both sunny and lightly shaded areas.
They have a preference for a sandy and dry soil. Ideally the pH should be from 6.5 to 7.5.
Do not grow in a rich soil as this affect the taste. A poorer soil should be used for the best tasting lemon balm.
Lemon balm can be started indoors. Sow the seeds about two months before you expect the last frost of spring.
They will take from two to three weeks to germinate in the light. Germination shpould take place at a temperature of about 20 degrees centigrade (68°F).
Once growing, transplant seedlings in mid spring. Space out at about 50 cm (20 inches) apart.
Harvesting Lemon balm (Melissa)
When growing lemon balm, balm, and other Melissa plant species for use in cooking, it is best to harvest and cut back the plant hard regularly before it has chance to bloom. Plants that have flowered will not taste good.
At the end of the growing period (autumn), cut back to ground level.
Give the plants plenty of space to grow in, as this will help to prevent mildew.
If you require more Melissa plants then either let them self seed, or take cuttings from the stems in spring or summer. Alternatively, you can even propagate by dividing the plant at the beginning of spring.
Common Questions
How many members does the Melissa genus contain?
The Melissa genus contains two known species, the most notable being Lemon balm.
Do Melissa members make a good garden or landscaping plant?
Yes, Melissa officinalis is a popular garden plant. It's loved for its lemon scent, and it attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
Which Melissa species are most frequently grown by gardeners?
The most commonly grown species is Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis), appreciated for its culinary and medicinal uses.
Are Melissa plants fragrant?
Yes, especially Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) has a lovely lemon scent when the leaves are crushed.
What is the perfect location to grow Melissa?
Melissa officinalis prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. It tolerates a wide range of soil types.
Is Melissa invasive in the USA, if so in which states?
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) can become invasive in some parts of the USA due to its prolific self-seeding, particularly in the Midwest and Northeast.
How do I remove Melissa plants from my garden?
You can remove Melissa officinalis by digging up the entire plant, ensuring all the roots are removed to prevent regrowth. Regularly remove flowers to prevent self-seeding.
Summary
The Melissa genus is a member of the mint family, with the most known species being lemon balm (Melissa officinalis). Its aromatic leaves are used in teas, cooking, and traditional medicine.
Melissa plants prefer full sun or partial shade and well-drained soil rich in organic matter. They can be planted in the spring or fall. Regular watering and pruning to maintain shape and encourage new growth is recommended, but overall, they're quite resilient and easy to care for.
I hope that you enjoyed this guide on how to grow Melissa plants. You may also enjoy the following Gardener's HQ herb growing guides: How to grow Sage, Dill, Basil, Oregano, and Thymus plants.
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