Melissa officinalis, commonly known as Lemon Balm, is a robust Hardy Perennial (H7). It is perfectly adapted to the UK climate, surviving temperatures as low as -20°C. It dies back to its woody base in winter and returns with vigorous fresh growth every spring.

The Bee Magnet: The genus name "Melissa" is Greek for "Honeybee." This plant is legendary for its ability to attract pollinators; historically, beekeepers would rub the aromatic leaves inside new hives to encourage a swarm to settle. Planting it near fruit trees or vegetable crops will significantly boost pollination in your garden.

Growth Habit: While it belongs to the mint family, it does not spread by invasive underground runners. Instead, it forms expanding clumps and will self-seed prolifically if the flowers are not removed. It is a well-behaved border plant but thrives just as well in a large patio pot.

Lemon Balm is one of the easiest herbs to start from seed, requiring very little intervention to thrive.

How to Sow:
Sow indoors from March to May. Scatter the seeds onto the surface of moist seed compost. Do not cover the seeds with soil (or use only a tiny dusting of vermiculite) as they require light to trigger germination. Keep at 20°C; seedlings typically appear in 10-20 days.

Where to Plant:
They are remarkably unfussy, growing well in full sun or partial shade. Unlike Mediterranean herbs like Lavender, Lemon Balm prefers soil that retains some moisture. This makes it an excellent choice for UK clay soils or those slightly damper, cooler corners of the garden where other herbs might fail.

Ongoing Care:
To maintain a supply of fresh, sherbet-scented leaves, shear the plant back hard after it flowers in mid-summer. Water well, and it will quickly reward you with a second flush of bright green foliage for autumn harvesting. To prevent it from spreading throughout your garden, remove the flower spikes before they turn brown and drop their seeds.

Lemon Balm is a verdant, leafy star that pairs perfectly with other tea herbs and fruiting plants from our range:

• 🍬 Peppermint: The Tea Garden. Plant Lemon Balm and Peppermint in separate containers side-by-side. They are the two essential flavours for fresh herbal infusions and look lush and leafy together on a patio.
• 🍓 Strawberries: The Productive Mix. Lemon Balm attracts essential pollinators which can help increase your fruit yield. Plus, the combination of lemon and strawberry flavours is a match made in kitchen garden heaven.

Sow indoors in spring for a year-round supply of calming, lemon-scented leaves.