How to grow Lemon Balm
Updated October 2026
Lemon balm is an easy, bushy perennial in the mint family with lemon-scented leaves for tea, drinks and salads, and small flowers that bees love. It grows almost anywhere, but like mint it spreads by rhizomes and self-seeds, so it is best kept in a pot or a bed where it cannot take over.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Lemon Balm
Where to plant
Lemon balm grows in most soils but does best in rich, humus-filled, moist, well-drained ground. It prefers full sun but takes light shade, and plants with some shade often produce larger, more succulent leaves, which helps in hot summers.
It spreads aggressively by rhizomes and self-seeds, and NC State Extension notes it has escaped gardens and naturalized in parts of the US. Grow it in a container, or in a bed where you can dig around the edges each year, and cut it before it sets seed.
- Most regions: plant in early spring. In cold areas, mulch new plants heavily to help them through their first winter.
- Florida and the hot, humid South: NC State rates lemon balm hardy in zones 3 to 7, so it is less suited to the hottest areas. Plant in fall to spring, give it afternoon shade and good drainage, and grow it in a pot you can move.
- Alaska and the far North: lemon balm is hardy to about zone 3; it grows well in a sheltered, sunny spot.
Choosing a variety
Plain green lemon balm has the best flavor. 'Aurea' has gold-splashed leaves and 'All Gold' is completely golden; NC State also lists lime and mandarin-scented forms.
How to plant
- Plant transplants or divisions in early spring, 18 to 24 inches apart.
- To grow from seed, sow in early spring and barely cover the tiny seed with fine soil; keep it moist until it sprouts.
- Divide established plants into root pieces with three or four buds each, ideally in late August or September, so they establish before frost.
- Mulch to conserve moisture and help plants through winter.
Watering and feeding
Keep the soil moist but never soggy; lemon balm grows best without water stress, but wet soil causes root rot.
Feed lightly with an all-purpose fertilizer in spring and again after harvest. Too much fertilizer gives excessive growth and poor flavor.
Pruning and care through the year
- Cut back flower stalks before they set seed to stop it spreading and to encourage fresh leaves.
- Harvest regularly; unpruned plants get weedy and leggy.
- Dig around plants in the ground each year to cut off spreading roots.
Harvesting
Pick leaves as needed once plants are established. Utah State suggests cutting about a third of the foliage each month, before the plant flowers, to keep it bushy. New leaves have the most flavor.
To dry, tie stems in bundles and hang them in the shade or indoors out of direct sun, then store the leaves in airtight jars. Dried leaves are less fragrant than fresh.
Growing in pots
A container of good potting mix is the best way to grow lemon balm, as it cannot spread. Water regularly, as pots dry out faster than beds.
Companion planting
Lemon balm's flowers draw bees and other pollinators, so a pot of it near fruiting crops helps pollination. Keep it contained.
Good companions
- Tomato A pot of lemon balm nearby brings in pollinators.
- Brassicas Its flowers attract beneficial insects to the garden.
- Fruit trees Grows in the light shade at the canopy edge and feeds pollinators at bloom time.
Pests and diseases
Lemon balm is rarely troubled, thanks to its strong natural oils. Overwatering causes most problems.
Pests to watch for
- Aphids Clusters on young shoots.
- Spider mites Fine speckling and webbing on leaves in hot, dry weather.
Diseases to watch for
- Powdery mildew White powdery patches on leaves, worse on crowded or overwatered plants.
- Root rot Wilting and yellowing in wet soil.
Common questions
Is lemon balm invasive?
It can be in the garden. It spreads by rhizomes and self-seeds, and has naturalized in parts of the US. Grow it in a pot, cut off flowers before they set seed, and dig around the edges of garden plants.
How do I harvest lemon balm?
Cut up to about a third of the plant at a time, before it flowers. Regular cutting keeps it bushy and gives the most flavorful young leaves.
Can lemon balm grow in shade?
It prefers full sun but tolerates light shade, and some shade can give larger, more succulent leaves.
How do I dry lemon balm?
Hang small bundles in a shady, airy place out of direct sun, then strip the leaves and store them in airtight jars. Dried leaves lose some fragrance.
Why does my lemon balm taste weak?
Too much fertilizer gives lush growth with poor flavor. Feed lightly and pick young leaves before the plant flowers.
Sources we checked: Utah State University Extension: How to Grow Lemon Balm in Your Garden; NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Melissa officinalis.
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