Lemon Balm
Melissa officinalis
Use Lemon Balm in herbal teas as well as adding handfulls to regular sweet tea. It gives a container of sweet tea a nice, fresh lemony flavor without having to buy lemons or lemon juice.
This plant is in the mint family and grows with all the vigor and zest you would expect from a mint. The foliage makes an interesting enhancer against other plants but it needs to be planted either in shade or around hardy shrubs that won't be overwhelmed by its growth habits.
Very invasive, however it is said to have medicinal uses. Fresh or dried leaf tea was used as a folk remedy for fevers, painful menstruation, headaches, colds and insomnia. Used as a mild sedative. The leaves were pulverized for treating sores, tumors and insect bites.
While it is used in tea breads & herbal teas, and as a garnish for fish dishes & lemonade, the lemon scent is more in line with lemon furniture polish than true lemon. It does, however, make a nice perennial addition to the herb garden, either as part of a lemon-scented herb collection or as a part of a shady bed.
In order to keep this plant from becoming an invasive pest, remove all the flowers before they fade & set seed.
Lemon balm is a wonderful herb grown for its strong lemon flavor and aroma. Plants grow up to two feet tall with white unnoticeable flowers. The leaves can be used in teas, salads, and cooking. Its leaves will loose flavor after drying so it’s best to use fresh.
Plants grow quickly and it spreads to form large clumps, which some gardeners consider to be invasive. Deadheading after flowering is recommended because seedlings can be a nuisance to control. It grows best in full sun but will tolerate partial shade.
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Propagation Methods:
-From nonwoody stem cuttings
-Seed Collect: Allow seedheads to dry on plants
Additional info:
-This plant attracts bees, butterflies and birds
-Flowers are fragrant
-Drought-tolerant; suited for xeriscaping
-normal Water Needs; Water on a regular basis; do not over water
-Requires constant moist(not wet) soil; do not let dry out between watering
-Self-sows In a free manner; deadhead if you do not want unwanted seedlings next season
-Bloom Time: Mid Summer-Early Fall
-Hardiness: USDA Zone 4a - 9b
