Lemon Balm - Herb With Fresh Lemon Fragrance

Lemon balm smells like sweet lemon and is used in herbal teas, wines and liqueurs as well as in many eau-de-cologne formulation including Carmelite water. Handfuls or the leaves which contain a lemon-scented oil were once used to polish wooden furniture.

Lemon balm or Melissa officinalis Lamiaceae is has other common names Bee balm, common balm, melissa, and sweet balm. Lemon balm association with bees goes back to ancient times. According to Greek mythology, Melissa was one of the nymphs who hid Zeus from his father Cronus, feeding him milk and honey. Once Zeus ruled Olympus, he changed her into a queen bee.

Herbs Gardening - Lemon balm

Lemon balm - Herbs with fresh lemon fragrance

Lemon balm is a hardy perennial that bears some resemblance to its close relations, the mints. It is multi-stemmed, growing to about 2.5 ft. (80 em). with ovate. regularly toothed green leaves. The insignificant lipped flowers are lemon yellow, and borne in clusters on the upper parts of the stems.

Varieties - While the common form of balm has a fresh lemon fragrance, there are varieties with related but different scents, including Lime with a true lime fragrance; Liqueur and Citronella which mimics the scent of citronella oil and is said to act as an insect repellent. Two attractive color variations are available 'Variegata' is a gold-splashed form, and 'All Gold' has pure golden foliage in spring.

Position - Lemon balm is an unfussy plant. but prefers full sun to partial shade and a well-drained but moist soil. It also grows well in pots.

Propagation - Lemon balm is a perennial usually grown from seed, although it is easy to raise from cuttings taken in spring and autumn, or from rooted divisions. Grow named varieties from lip cuttings, which will root easily, or by layering.

Maintenance - If you do not want seedlings, or you desire a new flush of foliage, cut back the whole plant. including the flowering heads. Cut back 'All Gold' regularly to maintain its color. Remove any plain green shoots from both 'All Gold' and 'Variegata'

Pests and diseases - Lemon balm is prone to powdery mildew, particularly in areas with little air circulation.

Harvesting and storing - Harvest the fresh foliage as required. To dry, cut the plant down to about 3 in. (7.5 cm) in mid to late afternoon, secure the stems in small bunches with rubber bands, and hang upside down in a well-ventilated area out of di rect sunlight. Strip off the dried leaves and store them in airtight containers in a cool place.

Read more about Lemon Balm herbal uses here