Lemon Balm Seeds (Melissa officinalis)

Grow Lemon Balm seeds for a refreshing lemon fragrance and a versatile harvest for your kitchen. Melissa officinalis brings bright, citrusy flavor to herbal teas, summer drinks, and savory dishes, while its delicate white flowers welcome bees to the garden. Keep a plant close to the kitchen and pick fresh leaves whenever a recipe needs a fragrant finishing touch.

Herb Highlights

• Botanical name: Melissa officinalis, a member of the mint family.
• Origins: Southern Europe, central Asia, and the Mediterranean region.
• Fragrance and flavor: Refreshing lemon aroma and a clean citrus flavor without the acidity of lemon juice.
• Flowers: Delicate white blooms that attract bees. The name Melissa comes from the Greek word for honey bee.
• Growing spaces: Herb gardens and containers, which can help manage its spreading habit.
• Deer resistance: Often less appealing to deer, although no plant is deer-proof.

Starting Your Seeds

Start indoors in a seed tray and transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost. When direct sowing, keep the soil evenly moist until germination. Water consistently as plants establish, but avoid overwatering. Mature plants tolerate some drought.

Container Growing

Use a container with drainage holes and a well-draining potting mix. Plant at the same depth as the seedling's root ball and water thoroughly after transplanting. Check moisture regularly, especially during hot weather, and let excess water drain rather than leaving the pot standing in water.

Lemon balm can spread and self-seed. Remove flowering stalks before seeds mature to help limit unwanted seedlings, including around containers.

Harvesting and Kitchen Uses

Pick fresh leaves as needed throughout summer and fall. Use them in herbal teas, poultry dishes, seafood, pesto, salad dressings, fruit desserts, and refreshing drinks. For storage, dry or freeze harvested leaves within two days to help retain their flavor.

Choose Your Seed Pack

Select from 100 seeds, 500 seeds, 2,000 seeds, a 1/4-ounce pack, or a 1-ounce pack. Weight-based packs contain approximately 50,000 seeds per ounce; actual counts vary.