Description
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) is a hardy perennial herb in the Lamiaceae family, native to Europe and the Mediterranean. It forms bushy clumps of bright green, slightly crinkled leaves and produces small, pale yellow flowers in summer that attract bees and pollinators. The leaves have a fresh, lemony scent and flavour, making them excellent for teas, culinary dishes, and herbal remedies. Lemon Balm prefers full sun to part shade and rich, well-drained soil. It is frost-hardy in New Zealand and can be easily harvested throughout the growing season. Traditionally, Lemon Balm has been used as a Culinary Herb for flavouring teas and desserts, as a Medicinal Herb for calming, digestive, and sleep-supporting remedies, and as a Pollinator Plant.
