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lexie1397

Lemon balm or ???

lexie1397
12 years ago

Hi!

I purchased a house this year that had some pretty well established garden beds. In it, is a plant that smells wonderfully of lemon but I want to be relatively certain of its identity before I start making teas and adding it to my food!

How do I distinguish between lemon balm, lemon mint, and some other lemon-scented plant? Or does it matter?

Leaves are wrinkled, roughly serrated, completely hairless, and opposite. The stem is four-sided, like most of the mint family, and has a few sparse hairs. Even the gentlest touch gives off a scent almost identical to the mosquito citronella candles sold in stores. It is growing in clay soil, full sun with late afternoon shade and persisted through our zone 8 winter (with a little snow/freezing temps). In fact, it snowed last week and is putting out lots of healthy new growth this week!

If someone can instruct me on posting photos, I'd be happy to do so.

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