Description

Lemon Balm (Melissa Officinalis) is a perennial herbaceous plant in the mint family. Lemon Balm is easy to grow from seed or rooted cuttings and thrives in full sun, but can be grown in partial shade. 

During summer, small white flowers full of nectar appear that attract bees, hence the genus Melissa (Greek for “honey bee”). Its leaves are often used for flavouring food, in herbal teas and for aromatherapy.

 

Benefits 

Pollinator & Pest 

• Attracts Honeybees

• The strong scent of Lemon Balm comes in handy again as it helps to repel harmful pests like mosquitoes and gnats from your plants. It is also great to use in place of citronella as a natural mosquito repellent.

 

Culinary & Medicinal Use

• Lemon Balm has a strong lemony scent and produces flowers that are filled with nectar, attracting bees to your garden. Bees are a great addition to have around as they help to pollinate your plants.

Nutritional Benefits

• Contains rosmarinic acid, citral, and flavonoids with antioxidant and antimicrobial effects.
• High in vitamin C, iron, and essential oils.

Garden Performance

• Easy to grow in pots or beds. Spreads easily, so control may be needed.
• Fast growing, making it a great groundcover or filler in permaculture designs.

 

How To Use

Lemon Balm flourishes under the following conditions:

• Season: Spring to Autumn
• Temperature: 15-25°C
• Germinate 10-20 days
• Depth: 3 mm
• Spacing: 15 x 15 cm
• Harvest: 70 - 90 days
• Height: 20 - 30 cm
• Flowering Season: Summer
• Exposure: Fairly sunny, 3-4 hours of sun

Ideal Growing Environment: 

• Prefers a well drained substrate with amendments or pre-made soil containing all the necessary base additives. Ideal pH 6.0–7.5.
• Keep evenly moist, especially in dry areas.
• Monthly feeding with organic compost or seaweed emulsion.
• Tolerates moderate to high humidity (50–80%) well.
• Well-suited to KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, and parts of Mpumalanga and Gauteng with partial shade.
• Lemon Balm spreads quickly so make sure to control it.
• Benefits from being planted alongside tomatoes, broccoli, cabbage, squash, and fruit trees.
• Intercropping: Pair with tomatoes, capsicums, broccoli, or strawberries to deter pests.
• Crop Rotation: Use as companions or rotate after heavy feeders. Perennials (rosemary, thyme, lavender) stay in place longer.
• Soil Rejuvenation: Enhance soil microbes; use as borders between cycles.
• Avoid planting with mint family herbs unless space is ample (can become invasive).

 

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