Melissa officinalis

Common name(s): lemon balm

Description: perennial; a well-known herb native to scrub and sandy locales of Southern Europe but naturalized elsewhere. Very aromatic, lemon-scented leaves and a tendency to reseed itself freely around the garden (which can be prevented with diligent removal of flowerheads before seed ripens). Used extensively in traditional medicine and herbal tea production as well as in the perfume industry. 

Height: to 2 ft. Spread: to 1 ft.

Position: very easy to grow in any exposure or soil type

Uses: medicine, culinary- herbal tea, to attract pollinators

Winter Hardiness: to 0 F and below

Drought: adapted to 3 months of summer drought

Distribution: Mediterranean Basin, SW Asia