Bee Balm and Lemon Balm are two different herbs. However, they are very similar in many aspects. Both are members of the mint family, Labiatae. Both herbs are perennials that are not only easy to grow but also attract pollinators and repel pests. As for teas or tisanes, they’re both great.
Let’s look at the differences between bee balm and lemon balm to see how they differ from one another.
What is Bee Balm?
Bee Balm is a perennial herb that belongs to the Lamiaceae family of mint plants. Bee Balm is a native plant to North Carolina, and if you drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway in the summer, you’ll probably find it blooming by the side of the road.
Where Does Bee Balm Grow Best?
In full sun, bee balm requires moist but well-drained, healthy, and well-drained soil. It can, however, withstand a little shade. If left unchecked, it can spread swiftly, just like most perennial herbs. Bee balm may grow to a height of up to 4 feet and attract various pollinators.
How to Grow Bee Balm?
- Maintain a consistent moisture level in the soil throughout the growing season.
- Mulch around the plants to keep the soil moist and weeds under control.
- To encourage the plant to re-bloom in late summer, deadhead faded blossoms.
- Cut the stems back to approximately 2 inches above the soil after the first frost in the fall.
What is the Herb Bee Balm Good For?
Bee Balm is most commonly used to attract pollinators. Bee Balm can be planted in large pots or as a natural border. Common uses include Oswego-tea, a topical therapy for minor cuts and scrapes, as well as mouth sores and cavities.
What is Lemon Balm?
Balm Mint, Common Balm, and Lemon Balm are some of the other names for lemon balm. The mint family also includes lemon balm (Lamiaceae).
It is most commonly cultivated in containers or garden beds, and it, like other members of the mint family, spreads swiftly underground by seeds or rhizomes.
The aromatic foliage of lemon balm is well-known and has many various uses as a herbal cure and an essential oil.
Where Does Lemon Balm Grow Best?
The plants aren’t particular about where they grow, and they’ll thrive in practically any type of soil, but they like soil that’s rich and drained. Lemon balm plants thrive best in full sun from part shade to full light. Lemon balm should not be fertilized because it can weaken the plant’s aroma by doing so.
How to Grow Lemon Balm?
The roots of lemon balm spread through the ground. Set lemon balm in a bottomless pot in the garden to keep the roots in place and prevent them from becoming invasive. Plants that aren’t needed should be removed as soon as possible.
After flowering, cut plants back by half to foster a second crop of leaves and a compact shape. To prevent plants from self-sowing, deadhead them.
What is the Herb Lemon Balm Good For?
The natural lemony aroma of lemon balm is claimed to repel undesired insects such as mosquitoes; hence it is commonly used as an insect repellent. It’s also used to cure various ailments as a medicinal herb. For example, the oils can be extracted as a cure for anxiety and sleeplessness, and it is claimed to be effective as a digestive aid, as well as helping to relieve sore throats.
What is the Difference between Bee Balm and Lemon Balm?
Despite the fact that both bee balm and lemon balm belong to the mint family, the plants are rather distinct. Bee balm is a taller plant with 3-inch scarlet blossoms that can grow up to 4 feet tall.
Lemon balm is a tiny plant that grows to a height of 2-3 feet and bears small white blooms with a diameter of less than 1 inch.
When the leaves of lemon balm are crushed, they emit a citrus scent, whereas when the leaves of bee balm are crushed, they emit a minty scent.
