Honey bees
Nectar value
Medium
Pollen value
Medium
Pollinator plant
Lemon balm
Melissa officinalis
Linked agroforestry plant data
Pollinator recipe
Bee value
Who this plant supports
Agroforestry database
Complete plant information
Structure
- Vegetation layer
- Herbaceous, Ground cover
- Size
- Small
- Dimensions
- 0.70 m high × 0.40 m wide
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
Site conditions
- USDA hardiness
- 4-8
- Moisture
- Well-drained, Moist
- Soil
- Sandy, Loamy, Clay
- pH
- Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
- Light
- Partial shade, Sun
Uses
- Edible parts
- Leaves, Seasoning, Tea
- Functions
- Essential oil, Pollinator plant, Fragrant
- Edibility
- 3 out of 5
- Medicinal value
- 5 out of 5
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.