Lemon Balm, melissa officianalis ©Cynthia Zirkwitz 2019 Lemon Balm, or melissa officinalis , is a perennial herb from the mint family. It may have originated in Europe, the Middle East or Asia, but now it grows like a wild thing in my garden, and maybe yours? But unlike other "invasive plants" (sometimes incorrectly labeled "weeds"), lemon balm has so many wonderful attributes-- lemon scent, lemon-y flavour, beautiful fresh vital green colour-- that you would never hack it out and dump it in the forest. However, I do suggest that you grow it in a container or a bed that doesn't have access to other parts of your garden. During the summer small white flowers show up, with bee-attracting nectar in them. ( Melissa is actually Greek for 'honey bee'.) Melissa may well be the "honey leaf" referred to by Theophrastus, (c. 371-c.287BC) successor to Aristotle, and called "the father of botany" by the Greeks. BALM IN THE BIBLE Besides ...
Living the Green Life