Mason jar mugh with herbal tea, surrounded by lemon slices and lemon balm leaves

How To Grow Lemon Balm Seeds

Updated on Jan 12, 2024
By Baillie Blankenship

The mild, lemony Melissa officinalis hails originally from the Mediterranean but is naturalized almost everywhere. Easy to grow, it has many culinary uses and a history of medicinal uses as well. Pollinators, especially bees, love the small, pale flowers that appear in late summer! 

HISTORY

Lemon balm’s herbal use dates back over 2,000 years. It was used medicinally by ancient Romans and Greeks. The delicious lemon-flavored foliage of lemon balm makes a sublime herbal tea that boasts a bright lemon fragrance.

USES

  • Perfect for herb gardens, container gardening, and mixed plantings.
  • Great in pollinator gardens.
  • Lemon balm leaves can be used to make a relaxing cup of warm tea.

Lemon balm plant in an old terracotta pot with lemon slices against a pale blue-grey background

 

  • Start indoors 6-8 weeks before the last spring frost.
  • Surface sow and lightly tap seeds into substrate.
  • Keep moist until seeds sprout.
  • The ideal soil temperature for germination is 70 F. 
  • Seeds sprout in 7-14 days.
Mandarina lemon balm plant with an orange slice Mandarina lemon balm plant with an orange slice

 

  • Transplant outside after the last spring frost.
  • Plant in full sun spacing plants 12” apart.
  • Lemon balm is best planted in a raised bed or container.
  • Cutting back flowers encourages more herbaceous growth.

PESTS/SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

  • Spreads vigorously through self-seeding!
Mason jar of herbal tea surrounded by lemon balm leaves and sliced lemonsMason jar of herbal tea surrounded by lemon balm leaves and sliced lemons

 

  • Separate dried flower stalks from the stem.
  • Gently roll the dried flower stalks in your hands over a paper plate or bag.
  • Separate seeds from the dried plant material.
  • Store in a cool, dry, and dark place until you are ready to plant.
Potted lemon balm plant with sliced lemons and some leaves and an old button around it on a pale blue backgroundPotted lemon balm plant with sliced lemons and some leaves and an old button around it on a pale blue background