Lemon balm
Melissa officinalis · Perennial
A citrus-scented mint relative that is as easy as mint and just as vigorous. Give it its own container.
What it needs indoors
- Light
- Partial shadePartial to full sun
- Water
- Keep moistKeep evenly moist
- Temperature
- 60–75°F
- Growing medium
- Average, well-draining mix
- Native range
- Damp ground of southern Europe and central Asia
- Difficulty
- Beginner
What usually goes wrong
Neighbouring plants in the same pot start to fail
Lemon balm is a mint under another name. The roots fill the container, and seedlings appear anywhere it can throw them.
Fix: Its own pot, always. Deadhead the flowers before seed sets, and lift and divide the clump each spring to keep it in bounds.
Pale leaves, brown crisp edges on the side facing the window
Scorch. It grows in damp part shade, and midday sun magnified through glass is stronger than anything it evolved under.
Fix: Bright indirect light, or an east-facing window that gets morning sun only. Trim the burnt leaves off and keep the soil evenly moist.
Coarse leaves with a faint, hay-like smell
The scent sits in the young growth and fades as soon as the flower stems come up.
Fix: Cut the plant back by two-thirds as it comes into flower. It regrows from the base within a few weeks and the new leaves smell of lemon again.