Genus: Melissa

Common Names: various

Description coming soon.

Distribution: Mediterranean Basin and Southern Asia

Melissa officinalis

Common name(s): lemon balm

Description: perennial; a well-known herb native to scrub and sandy locales of Southern Europe. Very aromatic lemon-scented leaves and a tendency to reseed itself freely around the garden (which can be prevented with diligent removal of flowerheads before seed ripens). Used extensively in traditional medicine and herbal tea production as well as in the perfume industry. 

Height: to 2 ft. Spread: to 1 ft.

Melissa officinalis 'Aurea'

Common name(s): variegated lemon balm

Description: perennial; a variegated, golden-leaved cultivar of the well-known herb, lemon balm. Very aromatic lemon-scented leaves and a tendency to reseed itself freely around the garden (which can be prevented with diligent removal of flowerheads before seed ripens). Used extensively in traditional medicine and herbal tea production as well as in the perfume industry. 

Height: to 2 ft. Spread: to 1 ft.

Melissa officinalis ex 'Mandarina'

Description: perennial; a seed strain of lemon balm with a trailing habit selected for its warm, mandarin-scented leaves. Can be used in all the same ways as the classic lemon balm and is recently very popular in herbal teas and desserts. Has a tendency to reseed freely around the garden but this can be prevented by removal of the flowerheads before seed ripens.

Height: to 2 ft. Spread: to 2 ft.