Pocket BotanistGuía de plantas
Lemon Balm.
Melissa officinalis
Pronunciación meh-LISS-uh oh-fiss-ih-NAH-liss
También se conoce como Balm, Beebalm, Common Balm, Lemonbalm, Melissa
Lemon balm is a cheerful, fragrant member of the mint family that is wonderful for tea or just brushing against in the garden. It spreads quite happily, so you might want to keep it in a container to prevent it from taking over your beds. Its bright green leaves have a lovely citrus scent that intensifies when crushed.
De un vistazo
- Care level
- Easy
- Plant type
- Herbaceous perennial
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Indoor light
- bright-indirect
- Water
- Every 3 to 7 days
- Mature size
- 60 to 90 cm
- Growth rate
- fast
- Hardiness
- USDA 4 to 9
- Bloom time
- Mid to late summer
Cuidados
Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy to keep the plant happy. Watch for powdery mildew if the air circulation is poor, and trim it back hard after flowering to encourage fresh, bushy growth. It is a vigorous grower that will benefit from regular harvesting.
- Watering
- Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
- Feeding
- Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer sparingly during the active growing season.
- Pruning
- Regularly pinch back stems to encourage a bushier habit and prevent legginess.
- Repotting
- Repot when the roots become crowded or the plant begins to decline in vigor.
- Soil
- Well-draining, fertile, loamy soil
- Soil pH
- 6.7 to 7.3
- Temperature
- -20 to 30°C
- Humidity
- 40 to 60%
- Drought tolerance
- moderate
- Lifespan
- Perennial, typically 5 to 10 years
- Fragrance
- strong
- Deer and rabbits
- high
Señales de que necesita trasplante
- Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
- Water running straight through the pot without soaking in.
- The plant stops growing even during the active season.
Seguridad
- People
- Lemon balm is generally considered safe for most people when consumed in moderate amounts.
- Pets
- It is generally safe for cats and dogs, though large ingestions may cause mild digestive upset.
- Children
- It is generally safe, but always supervise young children to prevent them from eating unknown garden plants.
- Contact allergens
- Some individuals may experience mild skin irritation if they have sensitive skin.
- Airborne allergens
- There are no significant airborne allergy concerns associated with this plant.
- Edibility
- Always verify identification before consuming, as some lookalikes can be toxic.
Cómo identificarla
- Opposite, ovate, wrinkled leaves
- Toothed leaf margins
- Distinct lemon scent when crushed
- Small white or pale yellow flowers
- Square stems typical of mints
- Height
- 0.3 to 0.9m
- Spread
- 0.3 to 0.6m
- Leaves
- bright green, deciduous
- Flowers
- white, pale yellow, 0.5 to 1cm
Problemas frecuentes
- Powdery mildew — A white fungal coating appears on leaves when humidity is high and air circulation is poor.
- Aphids — Small insects that cluster on new growth and suck plant sap.
Cómo cultivarla
- Propagation
- division, seed, cuttings
- When to plant
- spring, autumn
- Overwintering
- Cut the plant back to the ground after the first frost. It will go dormant and return in the spring.
- In containers
- It grows very well in containers, which is recommended to prevent it from spreading too far in the garden.
Division
- Dig up the root ball in early spring or fall.
- Gently pull the roots apart into smaller sections.
- Replant the sections in well draining soil.
- Water the new plants thoroughly.
Planting lemon balm near your vegetable patch can help attract helpful bees to pollinate your crops.
Buenas compañeras
- Basil — They share similar moisture and light needs in the garden.
- Rosemary — Both are aromatic herbs that benefit from similar sunny conditions.
Mantenla lejos de
- Mint — Both plants are vigorous spreaders and will compete aggressively for space.
Especies parecidas
- Catnip — It has a similar growth habit and leaf shape but lacks the distinct lemon scent.
Ciencia
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Genus
- Melissa
- Order
- Lamiales
- Class
- Magnoliopsida
- Native range
- Southern Europe and the Mediterranean region.
- Conservation
- This plant is common and not of conservation concern.
It thrives in open woodlands and disturbed areas where it can spread through its vigorous root system.
- Value to wildlife
- nectar source
- Pollinators
- bees
- Uses
- culinary herb, herbal tea, pollinator garden, aromatic foliage
A lo largo del año
Indicadores ecológicos
- Salinity
- 2/9
- Soil reaction
- 6/9
- Light
- 6/9
- Temperature
- 5/9
- Moisture
- 5/9
- Nutrients
- 5/9
Taxonomía cotejada con GBIF.
Lo que más preguntan
- Is lemon balm invasive?
- It can be quite aggressive in the garden, so consider planting it in a container to keep it contained.
- How do I harvest it?
- Simply snip off the leaves as needed, ideally before the plant blooms for the best flavor.
De dónde viene el nombre
Melissa is the Greek word for honeybee, while officinalis indicates it was historically used in medicine.
Bueno saberlo
- The leaves release a pleasant lemon scent when crushed.
- It has been used in herbal traditions for centuries.
- It spreads easily through underground runners.
- The flowers are small and white or pale yellow.
¿Tu lemon balm tiene mal aspecto?
Esta página es una guía general. Pocket Botanist diagnostica problemas a partir de una foto de tu propia planta, calcula el riego según tu luz y tus condiciones, y te avisa cuando toca cuidarla.
Esta guía se ha generado con IA y se ha cotejado con la taxonomía de GBIF. Es información general, no asesoramiento botánico ni veterinario. Descubre cómo elaboramos estas guías.