Melissa officinalis

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) — a hardy perennial in the mint family with fresh, lemon-scented leaves for teas and cordials. Easy from seed and adored by bees.
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Melissa officinalis — lemon balm

Melissa officinalis, known as lemon balm, is a hardy perennial in the mint family whose softly crinkled leaves release a fresh, lemony fragrance at the lightest touch. Easy and uplifting, it is the botanical heart of our lemon balm range within the culinary herb collection.

History & origin

Lemon balm is native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean and has been grown for over two thousand years. The Greeks and Romans valued it as a calming, restorative herb, and medieval monks cultivated it in monastery gardens — it was a key ingredient in the famous Carmelite water distilled by nuns in the seventeenth century.

Its botanical name reveals its great gift to the garden: Melissa is Greek for “honeybee,” a tribute to how powerfully its nectar-rich flowers attract and reward bees all summer long.

Botanical characteristics

Lemon balm forms a bushy clump 30–80 cm tall, with bright green, heart-shaped, deeply veined leaves and small white flowers much loved by bees. Crushing or brushing the foliage releases its signature lemon scent, making it a favourite for teas, cordials and potpourri. A vigorous, hardy perennial, it sits among our perennial herbs and our aromatic herbs.

Growing Melissa officinalis from seed

Lemon balm seed needs light to germinate, so sow on the surface and press in gently without covering. Sow in spring in trays or directly into the soil; it is easy and reliable from seed. It thrives in sun or partial shade and tolerates most soils, growing into a generous clump that self-seeds freely — trim it back after flowering to keep it tidy and encourage fresh, fragrant leaves. Our herb growing guide and herb sowing calendar cover timing and care in full.

Ready to grow lemon balm? Explore the varieties or learn the basics first.

Related categories: Lemon Balm · Culinary Herbs · Perennial Herbs · Aromatic Herbs · All Herb Seeds

At SeedsChoice, every order ships from Meppel, NL with fast, tracked EU delivery.

What is Melissa officinalis?
It is the botanical name for lemon balm, a hardy perennial herb in the mint family with softly crinkled leaves that smell strongly of lemon. What is lemon balm used for?
Its fresh, lemon-scented leaves are popular in herbal teas, cordials and potpourri, and have a long history as a calming, uplifting herb. How do I grow lemon balm from seed?
It needs light to germinate, so sow on the surface and press in gently without covering. Sow in spring in trays or directly into the soil. Is lemon balm good for bees?
Very much so. Its name means honeybee in Greek, and its nectar-rich flowers attract bees throughout the summer.