A mint family herb with heart-shaped leaves and a gentle lemon scent, milder than lemon verbena. Used in teas, fruit salads, and as a calming herbal remedy.
From Greek 'melissa' (bee) and 'balm' from Latin 'balsamum' (aromatic resin). Called 'bee balm' because bees are particularly attracted to its flowers, and beekeepers traditionally rubbed it on hives to keep bees calm.
Lemon balm is such a magnet for bees that medieval monasteries planted it specifically to support their apiaries - the honey produced from lemon balm nectar was considered especially valuable! Unlike true lemon verbena, lemon balm is incredibly hardy and can become invasive, leading gardeners to joke that you never plant lemon balm, you just inherit it.
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