Lemon Balm, Perennial Herb -Lemon Mint Flavor- Easy to Grow The lemon balm plant (Melissa officinalis) is actually a member of the mint family and is a perennial herb. Lemon balm is an upright, bushy, herbaceous perennial. Leaves are light green, arrowhead shaped, somewhat hairy and coarse textured. Lemon balm grows to about 10-24 inches tall. This aptly named plant has a lemon scent and lemon-mint flavored leaves. It is perfect for use with soups, meats, fish, sauces, and salads. Lemon balm?s Latin name is taken from the Greek word for bee (Melissa), and from the ancient belief that a swarm of honeybees could be attracted to an empty hive simply by placing sprigs of the plant inside. Grow in container or contained area of the garden as this plant spreads. If not carefully controlled, lemon balm can quickly become invasive in the garden. Often, people mistakenly think that lemon balm is invasive due to its roots, like its cousins peppermint and spearmint, but in fact it?s the seeds of the lemon balm plant that cause this herb to suddenly take over a garden. Removing the flowers of the plant as soon as they appear will make your lemon balm far less invasive. Exposure: Sun or part-shade Zone: Hardy to Zone 5 Timing Start indoors 6 to 8 weeks before last frost, and transplant out or direct sow once day time temperatures are steadily above 10C (50F). Starting Barely cover the tiny seeds. Use a sterilized potting soil, and keep watering to an absolute minimum ? just enough to keep the medium from drying out. Germination takes 10-14 days. Transplant at a spacing of 45cm (18?) into the garden. Growing Choose a shady spot or a location where plants can be protected from midday sun. Lemon balm prefers a fertile, moist soil in a cooler part of the garden. Plants grown in partial shade will be larger and more succulent than those exposed to full sun. Harvest Pick leaves throughout the summer for fresh use. The aroma is rapidly lost when dried or stored. =s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s==s=s=s=s=s=s=s= Free shipping to Canada- and USA Selected seeds only Add this item to your cart and keep shopping-- at https://www.ebay.ca/usr/okiger-2i55iwk =s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s==s=s=s=s=s=s=s= Shipping of Seeds and Cuttings: Orders are shipped via Canada Post Mail unless otherwise specified. Some items are shipped without tracking to keep costs low. This is the most economical option. Canada Post is incredibly reliable, but can be slow. If you require tracking or a faster delivery please message before ordering. We try to ship any live plants on MONDAYS or TUESDAYS as a precautionary measure to avoid delays over the weekend and ensure the viability of live plant orders. Weather may be a contributing factor in the processing of our orders and will occasionally cause some delay. We will ship seeds anywhere in the world, however, please make sure you check with your country's customs office to be sure that they are allowed in. We will not be held responsible for orders held, confiscated and/or destroyed by customs. Please note this and make sure you understand before you buy it. If you have a question or if you are unclear about shipping policies please contact us. We welcome questions! Contact us before, after, or during any transaction and you will receive a reply ASAP. Thanks for visiting! Don't forget to bookmark us!