Lemon Balm Seeds - Organic
Lemon Balm Seeds - Organic
Lemon Balm Seeds - Organic
1 - 3

Lemon Balm Seeds - Organic

SKU: HLM101
Open-Pollinated
Certified Organic
Heirloom
$5.35
Choose size

🚚 FREE SHIPPING for all orders over $79!

Lemon balm is a fragrant perennial herb with soft green leaves and a clean lemon scent that lifts from the plant as soon as it is touched. Long grown in monastery and cottage gardens, it has been used traditionally for teas, syrups, and household herb blends.

Plants are hardy, generous, and easy to grow, spreading politely at first and more freely when happy. Tuck it where you can brush past the leaves, harvest often to keep growth tender, and enjoy its bright citrus note fresh, dried, or steeped.

Scientific name: Melissa officinalis
Life cycle: Perennial
Days to maturity: 70-90 days from sowing
Plant height: 18-24"
Growth habit: Spreading

Every order is packed with care by our small team in Pennsylvania and typically ships within 2–3 business days—often by the next business day. We ship throughout the United States using USPS and UPS.

Unopened items may be returned within 30 days of delivery. If an order arrives damaged, incomplete, or incorrect, please contact us so we can make it right.

View Shipping Policy

We stand behind every packet we sell. Our seeds are carefully selected, tested for germination, untreated, and guaranteed to be true to variety.

Your seeds are covered for one year from the date of purchase. If they fail to germinate under reasonable growing conditions, arrive damaged, or do not grow true to type, contact us and we’ll make it right with a replacement, store credit, or refund.

View Refund, Return & Guarantee Policy

FAMILY OWNED

Hand packed in Pennsylvania by our family.

LAB TESTED

Third-party tested for reliable germination.

NON-GMO

Open-pollinated varieties for home gardens & seed saving.

UNTREATED SEED

Never coated with chemical seed treatments.

Customers rate us 4.8/5 based on 307 reviews.

Lemon Balm Growing Basics

Lemon balm has been grown in European and Mediterranean herb gardens for centuries, treasured for its bright citrus fragrance, soft green leaves, and easy place near the kitchen door. Brush against the plant on a warm day and the leaves release a scent that feels fresh, clean, and unmistakably lemony.

A member of the mint family, lemon balm grows into a leafy perennial clump and produces small pale flowers that bees readily visit. Its leaves are useful in teas, cold drinks, fruit dishes, baked goods, herb blends, and fragrant household projects. Once established, the plant is generous and enduring, though it may spread by seed if flowers are left to mature.

Start lemon balm indoors about 6–8 weeks before the expected last spring frost, or direct sow outdoors after the soil can be worked and temperatures have begun to settle.

Transplant well-rooted seedlings in spring after severe cold has passed. Established plants are perennial in many climates and return from the crown each year. Lemon balm may also be planted in early fall where there is enough time for roots to establish before winter.

Sow seeds shallowly on the surface of moist seed-starting mix and cover only lightly. Keep the surface evenly moist until germination, which may take one to three weeks.

Provide strong light once seedlings emerge. Harden plants gradually before moving them outdoors, spacing them about 18–24 inches apart. Lemon balm also grows well in containers, which can help limit self-sowing and keep the leaves close to the kitchen.

Choose a site with full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. Lemon balm tolerates ordinary garden ground, though finished compost and steady moisture encourage lush, tender foliage.

Water regularly while plants establish. Mature plants tolerate short dry periods, but the leaves are best when growth remains steady. Cut plants back after flowering or whenever stems become coarse to encourage a fresh flush of leaves.

Lemon balm flowers attract bees, hoverflies, and other beneficial insects, making it useful near vegetable gardens, orchards, herb beds, and pollinator plantings. Deadhead before seed matures if you want to prevent volunteer seedlings from spreading through nearby beds.

Begin harvesting once plants are well established and producing plenty of foliage. Cut young stems just above a leaf pair, taking small amounts often to encourage branching.

For the strongest fragrance, harvest before flowering and during the cool part of the day. Use leaves fresh, freeze them, or dry them gently in a warm, airy place away from direct sun. Dried lemon balm loses fragrance over time, so store it tightly sealed and use it within the season when possible.

Full Lemon Balm Growing Guide