Behind the sober botanical name, Melissa officinalis, lies an herbal plant with multiple talents. Get to know the system and interesting characteristics of lemon balm in the profile.
A profile with interesting details
The success of a hobby gardener is always based on a pool of background knowledge about his plants. Lemon balm is no exception. Get to know the interesting details about the multi-faceted herbal plant in the following profile:
- Plant family of mints (Lamiaceae)
- Members of the genus Melissa (Melissa)
- Native to the eastern Mediterranean
- Herbaceous, hardy plant
- Height of growth from 20 to 90 centimeters
- white flowers from June to August
- brown Klaus fruits with seeds in autumn
- average life expectancy of 25 to 30 years
- Synonyms: lemon balm, garden balm, beeweed, lemon herb
- Use as a spice and medicinal plant, garden and house plant
In addition to Melissa officinalis, the genus includes three other Melissa species and different varieties. The wonderfully fragrant Melissa officinalis ssp. officinalis as a subspecies, as well as Melissa altissima, known as Crete balm. Other species thrive mainly in Asia and have not yet been able to establish themselves in our latitudes.
Valuable ingredients
The manifold possibilities of using lemon balm are based on the precious ingredients. First and foremost are the essential oils, which provide the wonderful scent. In addition, lemon balm is rich in vitamin C. There is a whopping 250 milligrams of the essential vitamin in 100 grams of the leaves. Also worth mentioning is the proportion of rosmarinic acid, whose antibacterial and antiviral effect is used in medical ointments.
Plant with a desire to conquer
Unreserved praise cannot be sung to lemon balm, for it imparts an unpleasant quality. Due to its underground rhizomes, the herbal plant constantly strives to spread further in the garden. In order to counteract this shortcoming, experienced hobby gardeners generally plant lemon balm with a root barrier.
tips and tricks
The creative botanists of the State Institute for Natural Resources and Plant Cultivation have succeeded in breeding a unique variety that surpasses all previous lemon balm types and varieties in terms of aroma. We are talking about Melissa officinalis 'Binsuga', which with a growth height of 20 to 40 centimeters also thrives in small gardens. Just before their white-pink blooms in July, harvest lemony leaves with an unrivaled flavor.
GTH