Pollinator plant

Lemon balm

Melissa officinalis

Linked agroforestry plant data
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Common names

46 names · 32 languages
EnglishYour language
+1 more nameShow fewer names
Other languages (31)
Dutch
French
Asturian
Basque
Bulgarian
  • Маточина[3]
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 柠檬香蜂草[3]
  • 蜜蜂花[3]
  • 香蜂草[3]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 檸檬香脂草[3]
  • 蜜蜂花[3]
  • 香蜂草[3]
Czech
  • meduňka lékařská[3]
Danish
  • Citronmelisse[3]
Estonian
  • aedmeliss[3]
  • sidrunmeliss[3]
Finnish
  • sitruunamelissa[3]
German
Greek
  • Μελισσόχορτο[3]
Hebrew
  • מליסה רפואית[3]
Hungarian
  • citromfű[3]
  • orvosi citromfű[3]
Italian
Japanese
  • コウスイハッカ[3]
Kurdish
  • دەرپێ قرێ[3]
Lithuanian
  • Vaistinė melisa[3]
Norwegian
  • sitronmelisse[3]
Polish
  • Melisa lekarska[3]
Portuguese
Russian
  • Мелисса лекарственная[3]
Slovak
  • medovka lekárska[3]
Slovenian
  • navadna melisa[3]
Spanish
Swedish
  • citronmeliss[3]
Thai
  • สะระแหน่[3]
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • Меліса лікарська[3]
Sources & name notes (3)

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

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

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

[1] Melissa officinalis — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Lemon Balm — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Melissa officinalis.
  • Balm — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Melissa officinalis.
  • Balm Mint — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Melissa officinalis.
  • Common Balm — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Melissa officinalis.
[2] Melissa officinalis — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • lemon balm — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • Citroenmelisse — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • Mélisse officinale — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • Zitronenmelisse — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • balsamita mayor — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • Limoncillo — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • Toronjil — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • Mélisse citronelle — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • Melissa vera — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • Erva-cidreira — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
[3] 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.
  • Citroenmelisse — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • Mélisse officinale — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • Zitronenmelisse — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • balsamita mayor — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • Limoncillo — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • Toronjil — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • Mélisse citronelle — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • Melissa vera — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • Erva-cidreira — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • מליסה רפואית — results[0].names[7]; 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.
  • Мелисса лекарственная — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 59901; Melissa officinalis.
  • sitruunamelissa — results[0].names[13]; 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.
  • 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.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Melissa officinalis is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Lamiaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
0.61–0.91 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.46–0.91 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Mounding; Multi-stemmed; Open

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Rapid

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Occasionally Dry

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Autumn; Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: butterflies, pollinators.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Native range
Medit. to C. Asia.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Medium suitability
Nectar value Medium
Pollen value Medium
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

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.

Sources and references

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

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Melissa officinalis — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 630342; ID 3ZJGV; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 630342; ID 3ZJGV; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Melissa officinalis — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Melissa officinalis — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 85739; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 167416, 167417, 167418, 167419, 167420, 167421, 167422, 167423, 167424, 167425, 167426, 167428, 167429, 167430, 167435, 167436, 167437, 167442, 167443, 167444, 167445, 167446, 167447, 167448, 167449, 167450, 167451, 167452, 167453, 167454

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.