Melissa officinalis ex 'Mandarina'

Common name(s): mandarina lemon balm

Description: perennial; a seed strain of lemon balm selected for its warm, mandarin-scented leaves. Can be used in all the same ways as the classic lemon balm and is recently very popular in herbal teas and desserts. Has a tendency to reseed freely around the garden but this can be prevented by removal of the flowerheads before seed ripens. More trailing, spreading growth than the typical M officinalis.

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

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

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

Winter Hardiness: to 0 F and below

Drought: adapted to 3 months of summer drought