Description

• Lemon balm is a fairly large herb, growing up to two to three feet tall with leaves that are deeply wrinkled. The leaves range from a bright yellow-green to dark green, depending on their environment. During the spring and summer, the plants produce clusters of small, light yellow flowers where the leaves and stem meet.
  
  

Geography

• Lemon balm is a perennial and is considered hardy in zones 5 through 9. This range allows for growth in most of the United States.
  
  

Considerations

• Lemon balm may be started from seed or purchased from a nursery or greenhouse. Once the season is over the entire plant needs to be cut back to around 2 inches to overwinter.
  
  

Considerations

• Lemon balm should be harvested before the plant flowers to make best use of the leaves for cooking. Since it is a perennial, it won't harm future growth to pluck leaves from it at any time.
  
  

Fun Fact

• If you rub the leaves of the lemon balm perennial with your fingers, they will smell like lemons.