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Herbal Wisdom:  Lemon Balm or Lemon Mint?  |
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Love-in-a-Mist
True Blue Farmgirl
367 Posts
Shannon
Independence
Oregon
USA
367 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 17 2007 : 4:18:18 PM
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We live in a house on the farm that my in-laws recently moved out of. In the front flower bed my mother-in-law told me she planted lemon mint. Well it had spread everywhere and each year, before we moved in I would help her pull it.
OK recently I read lemon "balm" tea helps you with all sorts of things that my husband needs help with. The description of the plant seems like the lemon "mint" we have. I'm trying to figure out if my mother-in-law just called it lemon mint because it looks like mint or what? Does anyone have lemon balm or lemon mint and can help me decifer better between the two? Pictures would be helpful. Thanks for any help. Sorry if this is confusing
Farmgirl and mother of 2
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t290/dollieleah/horsepic.jpg |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Feb 17 2007 : 4:50:31 PM
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If you smell a leaf from lemon balm (bigger leaves...about the size of a rose leaf) it smells just like lemon pledge..lemon mint is mintier and the variety I have had has smaller leaves...about the size of the fingernail on my ring finger..but pointier. (had to look around for something the right size.
Both make nice tea. I prefer lemon verbena to them both..but that is a whole different thing.
Lemon balm and lemon mint both spread like crazy. I wish I had pictures to help.
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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shelle
True Blue Farmgirl
404 Posts
Shelle
oklahoma
USA
404 Posts |
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Love-in-a-Mist
True Blue Farmgirl
367 Posts
Shannon
Independence
Oregon
USA
367 Posts |
Posted - Feb 18 2007 : 08:27:15 AM
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Thankyou Girls. I couldn't find pictures that good when I was searching. My lemon mint is definitely lemon balm. Yeah I won't EVER have to buy any. I'm glad I found the answer before I did!
Thanks again, Shannon
Farmgirl and mother of 2
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t290/dollieleah/horsepic.jpg |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Feb 18 2007 : 12:32:19 PM
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Guess what? Mine comes back bigger and better every single year tooo..even if you hack it to the ground..heehee. Have fun.
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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EnchantedWoodsGirl
True Blue Farmgirl
959 Posts
Kathy
New Jersey
USA
959 Posts |
Posted - Feb 18 2007 : 9:27:03 PM
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Shannon, Lemon Balm is such a great herb to have around, I have it growing everywhere. It makes a great tincture that is super easy to make and tastes yummy on a spoon of honey, dropped in your tea or even on a sugar cube. It is a keeper for sure!
Kathy of the Enchanted Wood
http://enchantedwoodmusings.blogspot.com/
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herbquilter
True Blue Farmgirl
891 Posts
Kristine
Bonney Lake
Wa
USA
891 Posts |
Posted - Mar 18 2007 : 5:25:42 PM
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If you go to google.com, type in lemon balm & click on images, you will see lots of beautiful pictures.
That way you can identify what you have.
Blessings,
Kristine ~ Mother of Many & Herbalist
www.herbalmomma.com
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abbasgurl
True Blue Farmgirl
1262 Posts
Rhonda
USA
1262 Posts |
Posted - Mar 24 2007 : 1:17:10 PM
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Hi Shannon
If your plant is speading like crazy it's probably from the mint family, as they are notorious for being invasive. I personally think they are worth the trouble though!
Mints spread by their root system. One way to keep them contained is to bury some kind of a barrier in the ground to keep the roots from growing willy nilly. A clay drainage tile turned on it's end makes an attractive planter. You bury the tile (or other barrier) in the ground about 12-18 inches deep (the deeper the better). Leave about an inch or so of your container above ground, fill with soil & plant your mint as you would in a regular pot.
Lemon balm spreads by making new "baby" plants. If you don't stay after them you will find them everywhere! Otherwise it typically stays in a neat compact plant in the garden.
The leaves of lemon balm are a dull, light green and tender, while mint leaves are usually darker, glossy, and a bit fleshy. Lemon balm grows in a sort of upright ball shape, and mints usually trail or vine out over the ground. There are many, many mint varieties though! If our descriptions don't help, you might try taking a snippet to your local garden shop or home extention agent.
I prefer Lemon Balm, but both plants are nice in tea or as a garnish. They are both nice dried in potpourri or sachets too. I used to make a wonderful cheesecake using lemon balm for flavoring. If anyone is interested I will see if I can find the recipe.
Blessings,
Rhonda
I'm a one girl revolution. |
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GaiasRose
True Blue Farmgirl
2552 Posts
Tasha-Rose
St. Paul
Minnesota
2552 Posts |
Posted - Mar 24 2007 : 2:55:15 PM
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lemon mint is also called bee balm and is very attractive to well, bees....also monarchs love it. Some people confuse lemon mint/bee balm with bergamot, which is actually a citrus fruit but in some parts of the country that flower is also called bergamot. When working in oils and teas, it is msot often the bergamot citrus fruit however, bee balm leaves and flowers also make a wonderful tea with spearmint leaves and a little bit of chamomile!
~*~Brightest Blessings~*~
Tasha-Rose
Blogs: http://gaiarose.wordpress.com
http://tasharose365.wordpress.com/
Homepage:
http://gaiasrose.etsy.com
http://ForestFaeries.etsy.com
Birth is safe, interference is risky; TRUST BIRTH |
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Herbal Wisdom: Lemon Balm or Lemon Mint? |
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Lemon Balm or Lemon Mint?
