Melissa balm 'Mandarin'
Lemon balm 'Mandarin' is an aromatic perennial highly prized for its tender green foliage with a fruity, sweet, and slightly lemony scent, reminiscent of mandarin. More unique than classic lemon balm, it brings a distinctive fragrant touch to herb gardens, vegetable patches, edible containers, and pots on the patio or balcony. Its leaves can be used fresh or dried to flavor infusions, cold drinks, desserts, fruit salads, light sauces, and some summer recipes.
Easy to cultivate, lemon balm 'Mandarin' prefers a spot in soft sun or partial shade, in fertile, fresh, and well-drained soil. It appreciates regular watering to maintain tender, fragrant, and pleasant-to-harvest foliage. Like many lemon balms, it can spread once established, making it an excellent candidate for pot cultivation or in a confined space. Regular pruning helps maintain a more compact, denser plant and stimulates the production of new aromatic leaves.
Both decorative, fragrant, and useful, lemon balm 'Mandarin' is ideal for creating a gourmet garden with fresh and fruity aromas. Its flowering attracts pollinators, while its fragrant foliage adds diversity to collections of herbs and medicinal plants. It is a perfect variety for gardeners looking for an easy, productive, and original plant, capable of bringing a mandarin note to the garden as well as to the kitchen.
Care guide
Choosing this plant
Light, soil, water and hardiness
Blooming, foliage and shape
Size and growth
Companion planting, spacing and harvest
Pets
Butterflies
Repellent
The availability of our plants varies depending on arrivals, seasons, nursery production and supplier availability. Some varieties may be offered for a limited time only, depending on their natural cycle or current stock. These plant profiles are designed to guide and inspire you when choosing plants for the garden, landscaping projects, containers or long-lasting outdoor arrangements.
