Meet Mint's Lesser-Known but Equally Delicious Cousin: Lemon Balm

Lemon balm looks a lot like mint, just with slightly fuzzy, more yellowy leaves. It has a wonderful lemon-like scent and its flowers are full of nectar that bring in all the bees and butterflies.

That's enough to sell me on growing this herb, but it's also one of the easiest plants to grow ever. It thrives in so many conditions and has few pest problems. It's even deer-resistant! Put it in your flower beds as a low-growing border plant or add it to your pollinator garden.

Here's how to plant and care for lemon balm.

Is Lemon Balm an Annual or Perennial Herb?

Lemon balm, like many of its herb cousins in the Lamiaceae family (aka the mint family) is a perennial herb. If you live in a colder climate, your plants will die back during the coldest months and then spring back to life as soon as it warms up. My lemon balm plants would start coming back in March in my Chicago garden.

If you live in a warmer climate, these hardy herbs could very well stay green all year round. Lemon balm can tolerate light and even moderate frosts, no problem.

Where to Grow Lemon Balm

I recommend growing lemon balm in a large pot or container or in the ground, rather than in your raised beds. It's not quite as invasive as mint, but it does like to spread out. Plus, lemon balm is perfectly happy in average soil. Save your precious raised bed space for pickier plants like tomatoes or peas.

Lemon balm is perfect for growing right in your landscape or in a pollinator garden.

Sunlight

Lemon balm needs just 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight a day to produce leaves for you, but it thrives in full sun. In hotter climates, providing some afternoon shade can help protect your plant from the intense heat.

Soil

Lemon balm prefers well-drained soil. It can tolerate a variety of soil types, but good drainage is crucial to prevent root rot. If you're growing in clay-heavy soil, dig up the top 6 inches or so and amend it with coarse sand and organic matter like compost to improve drainage before planting.

Spacing

These plants grow in clumps, a bit like small bushes. Space them about 18 inches apart (and beware of planting them right next to walkways).

How to Plant Lemon Balm

Lemon balm is super easy to grow from seed. You can also create new lemon balm plants by rooting cuttings or dividing a mature plant. Lemon balm is slow to get started, so if you're already well into your growing season, it's worth it to try to find some small plants from a local nursery. That way, you can enjoy lemon balm leaves immediately!

How to Grow Lemon Balm from Seed

Direct sow lemon balm in your garden in the spring 1 to 2 weeks after your last frost date. You can continue to sow lemon balm seeds until you're just 2 months away from your first frost date in the fall. These seeds germinate best in soil temps between 65° and 75°F.

To sow lemon balm seeds, you'll just lightly press the teeny tiny seeds into the soil. Don't cover them up since they actually need light to germinate. Keep the soil moist, and you should start to see little green sprouts in 7 to 14 days. I recommend doing little groups of 3 to 4 seeds, but you'll need to pick the strongest plant and thin the rest later.

You can also start lemon balm seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last frost. You'll need seed trays filled with a light seed starting mix and a grow light. Lemon balm seedlings are ready to be transplanted to the garden when they are 2 to 3 inches tall. Make sure to first harden them off by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over a week.

How to Grow Lemon Balm from Cuttings

Propagating herbs is what I call plant magic. All you have to do is take a couple 4- to 6-inch-long cuttings from a healthy lemon balm plant. Remove the lower leaves and dip the cut end in rooting hormone, if you have it. Plant the cuttings in a pot filled with moist potting soil. Place the pot somewhere with indirect light and keep the soil moist until roots develop.

How to Grow Lemon Balm from Division

Lemon balm can also be propagated by dividing mature plants in the spring or fall. Dig up the plant and carefully separate the root ball into smaller sections, each with several shoots. Replant the divisions immediately. You'll need to keep them well watered over the next couple of weeks as they adjust. Now you have bonus lemon balm plants!

How to Care for Lemon Balm Herb

Your lemon balm plants can pretty much survive without any care, but if you want them to be as productive and attractive as possible, then follow these tips to water, feed, and prune.

How to Water Lemon Balm

Lemon balm is super drought-tolerant, which is why it's often used in xeriscaping. That being said, your plant will stay looking its best if you give it at least one good soak a week during dry periods. Water the plants deeply but allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings. Make sure to aim your water at the roots, not the leaves, to prevent fungal disease.

If you forget to water your lemon balm for a bit, it'll probably perk right back up when you remember!

How to Feed Lemon Balm

Lemon balm is not a heavy feeder and can thrive in moderately fertile soil alongside native plants and wildflowers just fine. I'm not much for using synthetic fertilizers, so I just spread some compost around the base of my lemon balm plants if the leaves ever look like they need a little nutritional boost (maybe they're turning yellow). If you'd prefer, you could apply an organic nitrogen-rich fertilizer to boost leaf growth.

How to Prune Lemon Balm

Regular pruning (and harvesting) will help to maintain the shape of your lemon balm plant and encourage bushier growth. Remove any pest-affected or discolored leaves to keep the plant healthy.

Lemon balm flowers aren't very conspicuous—they're white, and they kind of hide near the stems. Pollinators love these flowers, so I recommend leaving them but then deadheading them as soon as they're fading. That way, you won't get a bunch of new lemon balm plants popping up all over your garden next year. You can give your plant a hard cutting back after it's flowered, which should encourage it to produce new leaves.

How to Handle Pests & Disease on Lemon Balm

Lemon balm is pretty pest-resistant, but it can occasionally be affected by things like aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies. Regularly inspect your plants, and prune any leaves that are discolored or pest-affected to slow any problems. Then, mix some Dr. Bronner's liquid Castile soap with water and spray it on the leaves—tops and bottoms—and the "arm pits" of the plant (that's where tiny pests like to hang out). I don't recommend using neem oil, even though it's organic.

Ensure good air circulation around the plants to prevent fungal diseases like powdery mildew.

How to Harvest Lemon Balm

You can start harvesting lemon balm leaves as soon as your plant is a couple inches tall. Then, you can (and should!) continue harvesting throughout the growing season.

The best time to harvest is in the morning, after the dew has dried but before the heat of the day. That's when your leaves will have the most flavor.

To harvest lemon balm, use a clean pair of scissors or pruners to cut the stems right above a leaf node. This will encourage your plant to bush out more. You can also shape a plant that's spreading out a bit too much by harvesting some outer stems right at the base. Never harvest more than a third of the plant at one time.

How to Use Lemon Balm Leaves

Fresh lemon balm leaves can be used immediately or stored in the refrigerator for a few days. For long-term storage, dry the leaves by hanging small bunches upside down in a cool, dark, and well-ventilated area. Once dried, strip the leaves from the stems and store them in airtight containers away from light and moisture.

There are so many uses for lemon balm—it's a great way to bring the garden indoors!

Culinary Uses

Lemon balm adds a delightful citrus flavor to various dishes. Use it fresh in salads, marinades, and desserts. Just chop it up first because the leaves can be a little chewy. You can also infuse it into teas, syrups, and cocktails. If you treat dried lemon balm leaves like any other culinary herb, it pairs well with fish, poultry, and fruit dishes.

Medicinal Uses

Lemon balm has traditionally been used for its calming properties. You can brew your own lemon balm tea to help relieve anxiety, insomnia, or an upset stomach. This herb is even said to have antiviral properties, so some people apply it topically to treat cold sores.

Other

In addition to making tons of lemon balm tea, I also crush some lemon balm leaves in my hand and rub them on my skin when I'm working in my garden. Mosquitos and gnats are actually repelled by that citrusy scent I love so much. (You can even make bug spray by adding a few drops of lemon balm essential oil to water.)

I arrange lemon balm stems with some cut flowers from my garden and put them around my home to get that lemony scent. If you're a bath taker, try tossing some leaves in your next relaxing bath.

Time to Grow Your Own Lemon Balm Herb

This is where I usually talk about how the lemon balm you grow at home is going to be so much tastier than the stuff you buy at the grocery store. I don't know about you, but I've never even seen lemon balm at the store! So once you fall in love with this super easy, beautiful little plant, share it with a friend. Let's make lemon balm a thing. It should be as popular as basil and cilantro! We won't need to buy it at the store because we'll all be growing our own.

Here's to that!