Nothing reminds me of summer quite like the fresh, citrusy scent of lemon balm.
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One of my favorite ingredients in fresh herbal tea, this often overlooked herb is easy to grow, with a breadth of medicinal, culinary, and other uses.
And it is certain to fill your garden and kitchen with the loveliest of lemony aromas.
Ready to add this herb to your garden? Here’s what’s ahead:
What Is Lemon Balm?Colloquially known by many names such as Melissa, sweet balm, honey plant, balm mint, garden balm, English balm, and heart’s delight, lemon balm is an herbaceous perennial member of the mint family.
It is a sprawling, bushy perennial herb with toothed, opposite leaves on square branching stems, tiny white flowers, and a subtle lemon fragrance and flavor.
While it grows naturally in sandy areas, it has been cultivated in all manner of climates and conditions, in dry, damp, and disturbed areas, from the mountains to the sea.
It has many wonderful uses in food and drink, medicine, cosmetics, and even crafts.
History and FolkloreLemon balm is native to Southern Europe, though it has been naturalized around the world.
Its use dates back to 300 BC, when it was used medicinally by Ancient Greeks and Romans.
The first century Greek physician Dioscorides recorded use of this herb as a remedy for toothaches, scorpion stings, and dog bites, as well as to encourage menstruation and relieve the symptoms of gout.
It was also often used to attract honeybees. This is likely where the genus name Melissa came from, derived from the Greek word “mélissa” or bee.
A patch of Melissa would be planted near
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