Position
Sun to part shade






Lamiaceae
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Melissa officinalis (lemon balm) is a hardy perennial herb with soft, bright green leaves that release a clear lemon scent the moment you brush past. It grows fast, fills out into a bushy clump, and gives you plenty to pick for tea, summer drinks, and cooking.
It’s also enthusiastic: in open soil it can self-seed and creep wider over time. If you want the flavour without the roaming, keep it in a defined herb bed or a pot.
Fresh shoots appear early, leaf growth builds quickly, and small white flowers follow in summer. Top growth dies back in winter and returns from the base in spring. Mature plants commonly sit around 40 to 80 cm tall (higher in flower) with roughly 40 to 60 cm spread per clump.
Plant at the same level as the pot, loosen the surrounding soil widely, and water in deeply. A light organic mulch around (not on) the crown helps buffer drying winds and reduces the wet - dry swing that can stall young plants.
Pick tips often for the best fragrance. If stems get tall or the plant starts flowering and you want more leaf growth, cut back after bloom - fresh, tender shoots follow. Removing flower stems before seed set also reduces volunteer seedlings.
Lemon balm is easy in pots as long as watering stays consistent. Choose a container that doesn’t overheat, use a mix that drains well, and expect faster drying in wind or reflected heat.
Order a set of three and use them in different spots - one for harvest, one for pollinators, and one kept neatly contained in a pot.
Dry open ground, scrub and woodland edges from southern Europe to western Asia.
Herbaceous perennial herb
Position
Sun to part shade
Moisture
Average to moist
Drainage
Free-draining
Hardiness
Fully hardy · -20°C
Mature size
40–80 × 40–60 cm
Winter habit
Herbaceous die-back
Bloom time
Summer
Harvest
Spring, Summer, Autumn
Containers
Good in pots
Pruning
Spring, Summer