Melissa officinalis

Toronjil (Melissa officinalis) — perenne resistente de la familia de la menta, con hojas frescas de aroma a limón ideales para infusiones y bebidas. Fácil de cultivar desde semilla y muy apreciada por las abejas.
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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

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¿Qué es Melissa officinalis?
Es el nombre botánico de la melisa o toronjil, una perenne resistente de la familia de la menta, con hojas suavemente arrugadas que desprenden un intenso aroma a limón. ¿Para qué se usa la melisa?
Sus frescas hojas con fragancia a limón son muy populares en infusiones herbales, refrescos y popurrís, y tiene una larga historia como hierba calmante y reconfortante. ¿Cómo cultivo melisa desde semilla?
Necesita luz para germinar, así que siembra en superficie y presiona suavemente sin cubrir. Siembra en primavera en bandejas o directamente en el suelo. ¿Es la melisa buena para las abejas?
Muchísimo. Su nombre significa «abeja de la miel» en griego, y sus flores ricas en néctar atraen a las abejas durante todo el verano.