Lemon Balm - Melissa officinalis
400 Seeds
Sow March - May
Hardy perennial.
Height 75cm (30in), spread 45cm (18in).
Prefers a rich, moist, well-drained soil in full sun but with midday shade.
Sow outside in spring, in drills keeping watered if dry. Germination may be erratic. Thin out or transplant when large enough to handle.
This upright plant has hairy, square, branching stems. The lemon scented, hairy, strongly veined leaves are opposite, oval, toothed, light green and 1-3 inches long. The white, pale yellow or rose flowers are about 1/2 inch long and two-lipped on auxiliary clusters. The fruit is a smooth nutlet.
Lemon Balm
Also known as Melissa, Balm mint, Bee Balm, Blue Balm, Cure All, Dropsy plant, Garden and Sweet Balm.
From the family Lamiaceae.
The Roman scholar Pliny and the Greek physician Dioscorides both used lemon balm as a medicinal herb. The name Melissa comes from the Greek word for honeybee and their belief was if you put sprigs of balm in an empty hive it would attract a swarm, because the odour of the essential oil is similar to that of a pheromone produced by bees. It has been acclaimed for promoting long life and strenghtening the brain. In the Middle Ages it was used to prevent baldness, as a lucky love charm and to cure mad dog bites and toothache. If planted by the front door it is said to drive away evil spirits.