Melissa 'Orange'
Orange balm is an aromatic perennial plant highly prized for its tender green foliage with a fruity, sweet, and slightly lemony scent, reminiscent of orange. More unique than classic lemon balm, it adds a fresh and gourmet touch to herb gardens, vegetable patches, edible raised beds, and containers on the patio or balcony. Its leaves can be used fresh or dried to flavor infusions, iced teas, lemonades, desserts, fruit salads, light sauces, and some summer recipes.
Easy to grow, orange balm prefers a location with soft sun or partial shade, in fertile, fresh, and well-drained soil. It appreciates regular watering to maintain tender, fragrant foliage that is pleasant to harvest. Like many lemon balms, it can spread once established, making it an excellent plant to grow in a pot or a delimited space. Regular pruning helps keep the plant more compact, denser, and stimulates the production of new aromatic leaves.
Both decorative, fragrant, and very versatile, orange balm is ideal for creating a gourmet garden with fresh, fruity, and original aromas. Its flowers attract 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 distinctive plant, capable of bringing an orange note to the garden and 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.
