Leaf
Pierre Bonnet, Tela Botanica · CC BY-SA 2.0
Lemon balm
Melissa officinalis L.
Also known as: Balm, Melissa
Family: Lamiaceae
40 to 80 cm tall
Vegetable gardens, gardens, moist soils
Flowering: June – August
Full sun
Part shade
Hardy to -20°C
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
Its crushed foliage gives off a very recognisable lemon scent, hence its use as an infusion.
🍃 Leaves
Ovate, puckered, toothed, bright green, lemon-scented when crushed
🌸 Flowers
Small white flowers clustered in the leaf axils
🍎 Fruits
Small dry achenes
🪵 Bark
Upright clump, square stems
🗺️ Distribution
Mediterranean basin; widely cultivated and naturalised throughout France.
🐝 Value for pollinators
Small white flowers, very rich in nectar, which gave the plant its name (melissa means bee in Greek).
✂️ Horticultural uses
Aromatic borders, vegetable garden, cottage gardens; lemon-scented foliage much appreciated as an infusion.
⚠️ Possible toxicity
No known toxicity, a commonly used aromatic and medicinal plant.
🌿 Other Lamiaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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