Hi,
I'm growing lemon balm and it is growing well but there is no scent, lemon or otherwise. I grew it from seed and it has flowered. What would cause the lack of scent?


Whitmore, CA
Zone 8a

Not enough sun? Also their scent is mild and not nearly as strong as that of lemon verbena. I have a large pot of lemon balm and it's just as much of a fast growing thug as mint is.

That plant looks like a potato plant. This is what a lemon balm should look like.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

SoCalGardenNut said:That plant looks like a potato plant. This is what a lemon balm should look like.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

Definitely not lemon balm, Melissa officinalis, but you might have some potatoes below the soil! No lemon scent, but good french fries.

Note to self: Next time look at the picture!

Deeby said:Note to self: Next time look at the picture!

Lol. Too funny. Shows how little I know. I planted these from seeds so figured I couldn't go wrong.
Thank you all for answering.
On another funny note I even made tincture with it. I'll have to see if potatoes leaves have medicinal benefits. Lol

I think they are toxic, potato leaves.

Thank you. Fortunately we haven't consumed any and I'm dumping my tincture.

OK, now I don't feel so bad!

I pulled up my "Lemon balm" potatoe plants and sure enough I've got a lot of baby potatoes now. I think I'll plant the potatoes again in a big pot.
The deer never touched the leaves so they must not be good eating.

Leighle said:I pulled up my "Lemon balm" potatoe plants and sure enough I've got a lot of baby potatoes now. I think I'll plant the potatoes again in a big pot.
The deer never touched the leaves so they must not be good eating.

The deer know they're poisonous, too.
...I can't imagine how that tincture smelled, let alone what it would have done to you. I am SO glad you checked with us, Leighle!

PS: I grow Melissa too, and use it in calming tea blends. What did you plan to use the tincture for?

Me too! I had planned to use it for the same reason among others. I'm trying to establish a medicinal herb garden especially with society as it is now and in my research lemon balm seems to be an overall useful plant to grow.

I work with young children and hope to naturally keep my immune system going strong before I go back to work as well as when I am working.

You're one of the saints! Best luck to you, Leighle.

What other herbs are you growing? I've been growing herbs for many years.

I hope both of you, Deeby and Leighle, are checking those plant IDs before ingestion!

(Sorry, couldn't resist This thread has give me a few well-appreciated laughs. Thanks, guys!)

So far, so good!