Lemon balm
Melissa officinalis
Also called Melissa and Balm
Garden plant · Herbs, veg & fruitSeeds itself everywhere, like the mint it's related to. Cut the flowers before they set.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Easy
- Water
- Every 3 daysWater the ground — water at the base, in the morning, not over the leaves.
- Light
- Sun to part shade
- Feed
- Every 30 days
- Humidity
- Average
- Hardiness
- Very hardy RHS H7, to -25°C
- Size
- 0.75 m tall · 0.3 m across
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Origin
- Southern Europe
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsSafe for pets
PeopleNothing recorded against it
Safe to eat: leaves.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-07-31.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
First signs of trouble
- A fine pale speckling across the upper leaves and white cast skins on the underside; the insects flick away sideways when the plant is disturbed.Sage leafhopper · pest
- A dusty white film on the oldest leaves low in the clump in a dry late summer, working upward through the plant.Powdery mildew · disease