How big does Lemon balm grow?

About 60 cm × 75 cm after ten years (height × width). Its ultimate size is 45–70 cm × 45–90 cm.

What soil does Lemon balm grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, sandy, clay.

Hardy down to -34 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

Is Lemon balm toxic to dogs?

No. Reliable sources list it as non-toxic to dogs.

Is Lemon balm toxic to cats?

No. Reliable sources list it as non-toxic to cats.

Is Lemon balm toxic to children?

No. Reliable sources list it as non-toxic to children.

When does Lemon balm flower?

Flowering: June–August, white, yellow.

How much water does Lemon balm need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

How much does Lemon balm cost?

It sells for roughly €2.90 to €3.90 in local shops, depending on size.

Lemon balm

Melissa officinalis

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is a perennial that reaches 60 cm × 75 cm after ten years. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -34 °C. Drought tolerance: medium. Non-toxic to dogs, cats and children. Sold in local shops from about €2.90.

Illustration of Lemon balm — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A bushy, lemon-scented kitchen and tea herb: pick the fresh leaves for salads, syrups and tea, and leave the tiny flowers for the bees that love them. It grows in sun or part shade and puts up with poor soil and short dry spells, but not with waterlogging. Cut it back after flowering, because it seeds itself generously and turns up all over the bed within a few years; keep it in a pot if you would rather not fight it.

Watch out for

It self-seeds heavily and also spreads from the base; without cutting back it turns weedy and crowds out weaker neighbours. In scorching sun and dry summers the foliage can scorch and thin out, but it resprouts after a trim. Powdery mildew, leaf spot, grey mould, aphids and spider mites can occur.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 60 cm × 75 cm
Hardiness: down to -34 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D June–August, white, yellow

Group	Perennial
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	60 cm × 75 cm
Ultimate size	45–70 cm × 45–90 cm
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Clay
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	June–August, white, yellow
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no data
Spreading	High
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	40 cm
For dogs	Non-toxic
For cats	Non-toxic
For children	Non-toxic
Typical price	from about €2.90

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
size not stated	approx. €2.90 – €3.90

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Perennials for part shade Perennials for full sun Perennials for clay soil Plants that are non-toxic to dogs Plants that are non-toxic to cats Plants that are non-toxic to children Perennials for pollinators Plants for containers Fragrant plants Fragrant perennials

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