Melissa officinalis
Plant family: Lamiaceae
Lemon Balm in the Garden Landscape
Lemon balm is a low-maintenance perennial that is easy to incorporate into the garden ecosystem, and will quickly become a small, leafy bush once established. Its dense shrubby growth makes an excellent weed suppressant, and as an aromatic mint-family plant, it can help to deter pests.
Harvesting Lemon Balm
Lemon balm can often be harvested several times during its growing season. Just trim leaves above a node to encourage more growth. The leaves are frost sensitive, so it’s a good idea to give your plants a heavy trim in preparation for the winter so all that lovely foliage can get used. The plants will bounce back just fine!
Working with Lemon Balm
Lemon balm eases melancholy and restores happy spirits, supports sleep, aids digestion, and it has antiviral and anti inflammatory properties as well. Lemon balm’s bright, citrusy flavor is excellent in tea blends, infused water, infused honeys, deserts, syrups, and all kinds of herbal creations. It’s most aromatic and flavorful fresh, but can also be dried as well.
Lemon Balm Recipes
Happiness Springrolls
Lemon balm is a happiness plant and it makes a great addition to spring rolls! You can make these rolls with whatever you have growing in your garden, but for these we added: passionflower, rose petals, lemon balm, zinnias, purslane, shiso, basil, malabar spinach, jewels of opar leaves, lettuce, carrots, and cucumber.
These statements are for educational purposes only. They have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Consult a licensed health care professional before consuming a new plant -- especially if you are pregnant or have pre-existing medical conditions.