Melissa officinalis
Lemon balm, Sweet Mary, Tea balm, Honey plant, Pimentary, Sweet balm, Barm leaf, Bee balm, Dropsywort, Balm, Balm leaf, Balm oil plant
Melissa Melissa
M. officinalis - M. officinalis is a bushy perennial with ovate, lemon-scented leaves, and creamy-white or pale purple flowers spikes in summer.
Melissa officinalis is: Deciduous
Leaves are scented - hence the common name Lemon balm - and can be used to flavour refreshing, cool drinks.
Bushy, Rounded
Pale-purple, White in Summer
Bright-green in Spring; Bright-green in Summer
Leafhoppers Leafhoppers
Generally disease-free.
Cut back after flowering to encourage fresh leaf production and to prevent unwanted self-seeding.
Division, Seed
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Melissa officinalis (Lemon balm) will reach a height of 1m and a spread of 0.5m after 2-5 years.
Beds and borders, Bees (attract & feed bees), Cottage/Informal, Flavouring food and drinks, Wildlife
Melissa officinalis will grow happily in any soil or aspect. Dead-head to avoid self-seeding.
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Partial Shade, Full Shade, Full Sun
North, South, East, West
Exposed, Sheltered
Hardy (H4)
Melissa officinalis
Lemon balm, Sweet Mary, Tea balm, Honey plant, Pimentary, Sweet balm, Barm leaf, Bee balm, Dropsywort, Balm, Balm leaf, Balm oil plant
Melissa Melissa
M. officinalis - M. officinalis is a bushy perennial with ovate, lemon-scented leaves, and creamy-white or pale purple flowers spikes in summer.
Deciduous
Leaves are scented - hence the common name Lemon balm - and can be used to flavour refreshing, cool drinks.
Bushy, Rounded
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Pale-purple, White in Summer
Bright-green in Spring; Bright-green in Summer
Generally disease-free.
Cut back after flowering to encourage fresh leaf production and to prevent unwanted self-seeding.
Division, Seed
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Melissa officinalis (Lemon balm) will reach a height of 1m and a spread of 0.5m after 2-5 years.
Beds and borders, Bees (attract & feed bees), Cottage/Informal, Flavouring food and drinks, Wildlife
Melissa officinalis will grow happily in any soil or aspect. Dead-head to avoid self-seeding.
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Partial Shade, Full Shade, Full Sun
North, South, East, West
Exposed, Sheltered
Hardy (H4)
Zone 7, Zone 6, Zone 5, Zone 4, Zone 3
Melissa officinalis (Lemon balm)
tomato thrips
Ceratothripoides brunneus
Insect
Absent
3
3
Thrips present in Africa; the Caribbean and parts of Asia; frequently intercepted in the UK. Can cause significant damage to tomatoes and other crops in countries where it is present. Europe wide PRA will consider its potential to establish and cause damage.
Our plants are under greater threat than ever before. There is increasing movement of plants and other material traded from an increasing variety of sources. This increases the chances of exotic pests arriving with imported goods and travellers, as well as by natural means. Shoot is working with Defra to help members to do their part in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive risks.
Traveling or importing plants? Please read "Don't risk it" advice here
Suspected outbreak? Click here for contact details to report to the relevant authority.
Date updated: 7th March 2019 For more information visit: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/
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This plant likes... | Garden match | |
Soil types: | Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types) | Tell us... |
Soil drainage: | Moist but well-drained, Well-drained | Tell us... |
Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
Light: | Partial Shade, Full Shade, Full Sun | Tell us... |
Aspect: | North, South, East, West | Tell us... |
Exposure: | Exposed, Sheltered | Tell us... |
Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
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