Plant Details

Melissa officinalis

Lemon balm

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Common names

43 names · 32 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Lemon balm[1]
Other languages (31)
Dutch
  • Citroenmelisse[1]
French
  • Mélisse citronelle[1]
  • Mélisse officinale[1]
Asturian
Basque
Bulgarian
  • Маточина[1]
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 柠檬香蜂草[1]
  • 蜜蜂花[1]
  • 香蜂草[1]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 檸檬香脂草[1]
  • 蜜蜂花[1]
  • 香蜂草[1]
Czech
  • meduňka lékařská[1]
Danish
  • Citronmelisse[1]
Estonian
  • aedmeliss[1]
  • sidrunmeliss[1]
Finnish
  • sitruunamelissa[1]
German
  • Zitronenmelisse[1]
Greek
  • Μελισσόχορτο[1]
Hebrew
  • מליסה רפואית[1]
Hungarian
  • citromfű[1]
  • orvosi citromfű[1]
Italian
  • Melissa vera[1]
Japanese
  • コウスイハッカ[1]
Kurdish
  • دەرپێ قرێ[1]
Lithuanian
  • Vaistinė melisa[1]
Norwegian
  • sitronmelisse[1]
Polish
  • Melisa lekarska[1]
Portuguese
  • Erva-cidreira[1]
Russian
  • Мелисса лекарственная[1]
Slovak
  • medovka lekárska[1]
Slovenian
  • navadna melisa[1]
Spanish
  • balsamita mayor[1]
  • Limoncillo[1]
  • Toronjil[1]
Swedish
  • citronmeliss[1]
Thai
  • สะระแหน่[1]
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • Меліса лікарська[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Melissa officinalis — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • lemon balm — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • balsamita mayor — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • Erva-cidreira — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • Mélisse officinale — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • Mélisse citronelle — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • מליסה רפואית — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • Zitronenmelisse — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • meduňka lékařská — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • sitronmelisse — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • Citroenmelisse — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • Мелисса лекарственная — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • sitruunamelissa — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • Melissa vera — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • Limoncillo — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • abichera — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • Маточина — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • Citronmelisse — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • Vaistinė melisa — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • medovka lekárska — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • Toronjil — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • 蜜蜂花 — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • 蜜蜂花 — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • 柠檬香蜂草 — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • 檸檬香脂草 — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • 香蜂草 — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • 香蜂草 — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • コウスイハッカ — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • sidrunmeliss — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • aedmeliss — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • citronmeliss — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • tarongina — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • Μελισσόχορτο — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • melisa — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • oğulotu — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • Abeyeira — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • Меліса лікарська — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • สะระแหน่ — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • citromfű — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • Melisa lekarska — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • orvosi citromfű — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • دەرپێ قرێ — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • navadna melisa — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • Garraiska — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.

General information

Scientific name: Melissa officinalis
Accepted name (Kew): Melissa officinalis L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Lamiaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Melissa (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Lemon balm
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous, Ground cover
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.61–0.91 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 0.46–0.91 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [3]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Mounding, Multi-stemmed, Open

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Occasionally Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky
Sources [3]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Condiment, Tea
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(5)
Functions:
Essential oil, Bee forage, Fragrant

Description

Leaves - raw or cooked. These leaves have a pleasant lemon aroma and flavor, and are often used as a seasoning in salads and warm dishes. Fresh or dried leaves can be used to make a lemon-flavored tea. A handful of leaves can be added to Chinese tea for a more refined taste. Additionally, they are also used to enhance the flavor of fruit cocktails. These leaves are employed as a flavor enhancer in various alcoholic beverages, including Chartreuse and Benedictine liqueur.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/06
Harvest ends: 15/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 85603; name ID 124046; Melissa L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 85739; name ID 124103; Melissa officinalis L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Melissa officinalis

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 630342, ID 3ZJGV: Melissa officinalis L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Melissa officinalis — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .