Melissa officinalis
Use lemon scented leaves in teas and potpourris.
This member of the mint family has white flowers and a gentle lemony scent, as well as some healing properties. Lemon Balm is particularly good at keeping mosquito bites low, but it is also an invasive species, so be careful when growing it in your garden. It does well if you plant it in a pot on your patio or other outdoor areas.
Lemon Balm is valued as a culinary, cosmetic, and medicinal herb. Use fresh sprigs to top drinks and as garnishes on salads and main dishes. The fresh or dried leaves make a great cold or hot tea, and the dried leaves can be used pot-pourris.
Spice up egg, chicken or tuna salads with just a few sprigs of lemon balm in place of parsley, or use it as an aromatic garnish for foods and drinks. Lemon Balm is used in Indonesian cuisine as a common substitute for lemongrass.
Traditionally valued as a medicinal herb, lemon balm has mild sedative properties. Lemon Balm, a member of the mint family, is a lovely mild herb named for the lemony scent of its leaves. Originally grown in South Europe, Lemon Balm is often used in combination with other herbs and is frequently found in poultry  fandish dishes, desserts, and teas. It also makes a nicely scented sachet.
Plant one at the edge of a gate so that when the gate opens and closes the lemony scent fill the air. This plant is very attractive to bees and has been used by beekeepers to help keep bees in place. Like other types of mint, it likes to spread, so a container is a smart choice.
Used since ancient times to calm the heart and the body, Lemon Balm with its delicate lemony flavor uplifts the spirit and any culinary dish it is added to. It has been used to sweeten jam, jellies, as an addition to salad, and as a flavoring for various fish and poultry dishes and liqueurs. Further, Lemon Balm is used for making perfumes, in cosmetics, and in furniture polish manufacturing. It is often found as a tea in combination with other relaxing herbs such as valerian, as an essential oil, and also in ointments for topical applications.
Sun: Part Shade - Full Sun. Protect plants from hot afternoon sun.
Life Cycle: Perennial in Zones 4 - 10
Thin: 10" Apart
Spread: 12- 18" Wide
Height: 24 - 36" Tall
Transplant: May - June
The plant looks best when it is cut back periodically, so plan to use lots of fresh, flavorful leaves to brew tea, flavor fruit or green salad, and season fish. Be sure to include stems in bouquets of summer flowers.
Storage
Fresh lemon balm stems keep in water at room temperature 5 - 7 days. For longer storage, dry or freeze leaves. Individually quick freeze leaves on a parchment-lined tray, store in freezer bags, or freeze in ice cubes.
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