Lemon balm 'Mandarin'

Lemon Balm 'Mandarin' is a hardy aromatic perennial with citrus-scented foliage reminiscent of mandarin, perfect for herbal teas, fresh cooking, and container growing.

Format

Hardiness Zone 3

Difficulty level Easy

Family Lamiaceae

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.