Melissa officinalis - Lemon Balm - Plant

Description

• Lamiaceae Lamiales
• Europe, to Asia and North Africa
• H 0.7m x W 0.4m
•  Z4 
• Perennial
• Synonyms: Lemon Balm
• 1 plant bare root

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Details

Pretty light green, aromatic foliage, with a delicate lemony scent

Melissa Officinale forms a compact tuft that becomes tall during the summer, which can be useful for creating volumes in an ornamental garden

Flowers are uninteresting, but melliferous and attractive to foraging insects

Lemon balm is generally cultivated for its medicinal uses (Antibacterial, Antispasmodic, Antiviral, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Emmenagogue, Febrifuge, Sedative, and Tonic), food uses (condiment, infusion), insect repellent (mosquitoes), to perfume linen and the house (potpourri), and as a source of essential oil (perfumery, aromatherapy)

As a condiment, lemon balm goes well with sweet food and fruit juices, but it is also used in soups, sauces, salads, fish, rice, etc.

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Cultivation

Melissa officinalis is an easy plant, which grows back every year from its roots

Find a sunny location in your patch of medicinal and aromatic plants, and cultivate Lemon Balm in fresh soil enriched with organic matter for more abundant leaf production

In winter, cut all the stems at ground level

Do the same in summer to stimulate the growth of new, young, healthy, usable foliage