How to Grow Lemon Balm in Containers

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is by far one of my favorite herbs to grow in containers. Not only is it super (duper) easy, but it deters pests, brings in pollinators, smells great and has a ton of medicinal properties. I started growing it on my communal patio when I lived in a one bedroom apartment over 6 years ago.

Originally from the east Mediterranean and west Asian regions, this herb has been used for traditional medicine and has been widely cultivated. Because of that cultivation, it is considered naturalized in many warm and temperate climates throughout the globe. Be very careful not to let it leave your garden!

Lemon balm is considered a part of the mint family. It has oval or heart-shaped leaves that are toothed and opposite of one another on square stems. It has small white, yellow or pinkish flowers that are beloved by pollinators and can spread by roots or seed. It usually grows to be about 2 feet tall with branching stems, but it can be kept smaller with regular pruning. With proper care it is a perennial herb.

When I started growing this plant I had no idea what I was doing. I did no research and just shoved it in a pot. Low and behold, that’s all this one needed. It thrived and it has continued to thrive year after year with minimal maintenance.

How to Grow Lemon Balm

I highly recommend growing your lemon balm in containers.

When grown in containers:

You can grow it anywhere
It won’t take over your garden – it spreads both via it’s roots and by seed
You can move it into a greenhouse or inside to extend it’s growing season

How to grow in containers:

Sun: This herb grows best in full sun but can tolerate some shade (some people think a little bit of shade makes the leaves juicer!)
Moisture: This herb needs moderate watering. Keep the soil moist but not wet. I normally wait until I see the herb wilt (this is very obvious) and then I will give it a deep water from below.
Soil: You can use any “normal” potting mix for this herb.
Pot Size: I started with a 10 inch pot and I think this works great. You can grow it in smaller containers with regular pruning but I think a 12” pot or larger lets it really thrive.
Planting/Propagating: You can plant lemon balm from seed, start, root division or cutting. I bought my initial plant from a local nursery and now I divide it every year for new plants.
Yearly Maintenance: The biggest maintenance that this plant needs is annual separation. My plant was good in its container for the first two years, but then all of a sudden it stopped thriving in year three. I messed with it in year four and discovered that the plant was severely root bound. By literally cutting my one plant into four plants by slicing the roots into quarters like a pie and replanting one of those quarters, my plant was all of a sudden lively and luscious again. Bonus: I had three new lemon balm plants!
Winterizing: The taller stems all tend to die off during the winter months so I like to prune all stems to the dirt right before the first frost. This seems to help the plant go dormant over the winter months and then it comes back without a problem in the spring.
Pruning/Harvesting: Prune plants by snipping right above a set of leaves. The plant will grow two new branches from this spot. For the absolute best results never prune/harvest more than ⅓ of the plant at a time. All aerial (above ground) parts of the plant are edible.
Preserving: You can hang the stems to dry or use a food dehydrator.

If you want to grow your lemon balm in the ground instead of a container you totally can! Just plant it in a sunny spot and water it when it looks wilted. If you plant it in the ground it may take more maintenance just to make sure it doesn’t take over your garden space.

Note: I like to let my lemon balm flower, but I almost never let it go to seed because it is not native to my area and I don’t want it to escape cultivation.

Using Lemon Balm

Lemon balm has been used for centuries as both a culinary and medicinal herb.

You can use it in fresh salads, tea, or during the summer I love to use it as a water infuser. I’m sure you could make some tasty alcoholic beverages with it as well!

I recommend using only the leaves if you are making a salad, but I use the leaves, stems and flowers in teas and infusions.

Medicinally, lemon balm is considered safe for pretty much everyone and has been used to treat anxiety, stress, nervousness, fevers and even menstrual pain. It is most often used as a tea or tincture. Personally, I like to brew a strong cup of lemon balm tea whenever I’ve had a stressful day. As always, consult with your doctor if you plan on using lemon balm regularly and medicinally.

Basic Lemon Balm Tea:

Steep 1 tsp of dried leaves in 1 cup of boiling water for 5-10 minutes. Tastes great as a hot or iced tea! I like to crush the leaves for the most flavor.

Learn More:

Online Resources:

University of Wisconsin-Madison growing guide
Utah State University growing guide
History of Lemon Balm by Megan Bumb

Books I love:

I am an Amazon Associate and that is reflected in the below affiliate links. I will make a small commission if you purchase the below books with my affiliate link. That being said, please check your local or favorite indie book store for them! I’d much rather you support a small business than give me a kick-back.

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