Lemon balm

Lemon balm is an aromatic and medicinal perennial plant known for its tender green foliage and fresh lemon scent. It quickly forms a dense clump of branching stems bearing slightly crinkled, oval leaves that are very aromatic from the first warm days.

In early summer, small whitish to pale yellow flowers appear in the leaf axils. Discreet but rich in nectar, they strongly attract pollinators, especially bees, to which lemon balm owes part of its historical reputation.

In the garden, Melissa officinalis is easy to grow and adapts to a wide variety of conditions. It prefers cool, well-drained soil and a sunny to partially shaded location. It grows quickly and vigorously, to the point of spreading if allowed to go to seed. It also thrives in containers, which allows for better control of its growth.

Originating from the steppes and plains of Eurasia, Moldavian balm ( Dracocephalum moldavica ) discreetly establishes itself in the garden, offering its aromatic, lemon-scented foliage and surprisingly abundant blue-violet flowers. In a sunny corner of the vegetable patch or along a path, it creates a light yet distinct presence for a season, faithful to the age-old practices of harvesting and making herbal teas.

Its upright stems bear slightly toothed green leaves, and its flowering spikes of two-lipped flowers attract bees and other pollinators throughout the summer. In a garden in harmony with nature, Moldavian balm thus becomes an ally for the soil, biodiversity, and the table, where its leaves flavor infusions and simple culinary preparations.