Whether you garden in the ground, in raised beds, on the windowsill, or anywhere else, lemon balm is a great addition or re-addition to your plant family. Read on for simple, straightforward specifics about growing lemon balm.
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Family | Container Size | Good Companions | Bad Companions | Soil Conditions | Germination | Sun | Water | Temperature Range | Height | Lifespan | Reproduction | Yield Per Plant | Ingestibility | Further Reading
What Family Does Lemon Balm Belong To?
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) belongs to the Lamiaceae family, also known as the mint family.
Some of its relatives include peppermint, lavender, and thyme.
What Size Container Should I Use for Growing Lemon Balm?
The minimum container depth recommended for lemon balm is 8 inches.
Learn more in our Choosing the Right Planter for Your Container Garden article here.
What Are Good Companion Plants for Lemon Balm?
Some of lemon balm's best companions are as follows:
- Squash
- Melons
- Cucumber
- Tomato
- Broccoli, cauliflower, and other Brassicas
- Apple
- Blackberry
- Kiwi
- Onion
- Fennel
- Basil
- Sage
- Rosemary
- Cosmos
- Zinnia
- Echinacea
- Bee balm
- Chamomile
- Borage
- Marigold
- Geranium
- Daisy
- Sunflower
- Lavender
- Dill
- Mints like peppermint and spearmint
- Chives
- Parsley
- Blueberry
What Are Bad Companion Plants for Lemon Balm?
Lemon balm is a versatile plant that gets along with most other plants. There are no plants that are specifically bad companions for lemon balm.
Lemon balm is a mint family member. But unlike true mints like peppermint and spearmint, it does not reproduce by runners and does not form a root mat.
It self-seeds readily, but it is not as difficult to control as these family members. Keep this in mind when deciding what to plant near it.
What Soil Conditions Does Lemon Balm Need?
Lemon balm prefers soil that is well-draining and sandy to loamy.
How Long Does Lemon Balm Take to Germinate?
Lemon balm takes 10-14 days to germinate at a temperature of 55-75°F.
How Much Sun Does Lemon Balm Need?
Lemon balm can grow in full sun to part shade.
In other words, it grows fastest in full sun. It will still grow in dappled shade or part shade, just at a slower rate.
Lemon balm planted in the shade is more susceptible to pests and disease. This is because it takes longer to grow and therefore has more opportunity to be exposed to them.
Sun recommendations can vary by region, and lemon balm grown in hot areas or in warmer conditions than the ideal temperature range noted below may need more shade.
How Much Water Does Lemon Balm Need?
How much to water lemon balm depends on the soil moisture level and weather. Lemon balm should be watered deeply but allowed to dry out between watering sessions.
In hot weather, this may equate to watering as often as every other day. In cooler weather, once every 7-10 days may be sufficient.
What Is the Ideal Temperature Range for Growing Lemon Balm?
Lemon balm grows fastest in temperatures of 55-70°F.
This is its ideal temperature range. Although it will grow in temperatures both cooler and warmer than this range, the growth could be slower or even stunted.
Minimum and maximum temperatures will vary by variety.
How Tall Does Lemon Balm Get?
The average height of lemon balm is 24-36 inches.
Is Lemon Balm Annual, Biennial, or Perennial?
Lemon balm is a perennial herb, meaning that it lives for longer than a couple years.
In optimal conditions, lemon balm can live for up to 30 years.
How Does Lemon Balm Reproduce?
Lemon balm reproduces by seed.
How Much Lemon Balm is Produced Per Plant?
Lemon balm continues producing leaves and stems throughout its life. Once a section is harvested (by pinching), that section will regrow as long as the plant remains vibrant.
Can Lemon Balm Be Ingested?
Lemon balm leaves are edible.
Lemon balm leaves have nervine, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties and can be used in herbal preparations. The most common preparations are tea and tinctures. An herb:solvent weight ratio of 1:5 at 30% alcohol is suggested for a lemon balm tincture.
Lemon balm may have a mild thyroxine-inhibiting effect, so those with Hashimoto's and other hypothyroid conditions may want to avoid ingesting a large amount of lemon balm in a short amount of time (such as a sitting or a day).
There are no other known safety concerns associated with ingesting lemon balm leaves. Lemon balm is generally recognized as safe, even for children.
Any information about herbs provided on Plant to Plate is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease or condition. It is provided for informational purposes only. It should not be construed as medical advice or treatment.
Further Reading
This article is intended as a quick-reference guide for gardeners. Consult your seed packet or seed catalog for variety-specific information.
When you have a bumper crop of lemon balm rolling in, you may not have enough time for long, complicated recipes or many-step preservation procedures. Check out my article on quick, simple uses for lemon balm here!
Lemon balm is featured in these Plant to Plate articles: