Is this lemon balm?

Flowers, Trees, Lawns, Infrastructures, Maintenance & anything else!
Post Reply
User avatar
LittleBrownFrog
Legendary Laner
Posts: 4477
Joined: 09 Jan 2012, 20:06
Gender: Female

Is this lemon balm?

Post by LittleBrownFrog »

This is sprouting out all around the edges of the compost heap that was here when we moved in. Leaves and stem are hairy, definite lemony smell when crushed. Does anyone know whether it is lemon balm?
Image
Lemon balm? by LittleBrownFrog, on Flickr
"Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder..." Thoreau.
Top
User avatar
perchy
Moderator
Posts: 23734
Joined: 26 Aug 2009, 18:28
Gender: Female
Location: Nottinghamshire

Re: Is this lemon balm?

Post by perchy »

Does it smell? I have lemon balm the leaves are slightly different to those, but it could well be
Top
User avatar
LittleBrownFrog
Legendary Laner
Posts: 4477
Joined: 09 Jan 2012, 20:06
Gender: Female

Re: Is this lemon balm?

Post by LittleBrownFrog »

The stem has a definite lemony smell when crushed, but the leaves not so much. It's quite nettle-y in appearance, and the leaves smell nettle-like as well.
"Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder..." Thoreau.
Top
User avatar
Homemade
Legendary Laner
Posts: 1966
Joined: 03 May 2009, 00:53
Location: wiltshire

Re: Is this lemon balm?

Post by Homemade »

It looks more like a dead nettle (as in lamium not a deceased nettle).
Lemon balm is rounder and less hairy.
Are the leaves in direct opposite pairs? and are the stems soft? then definitely dead nettle.
Quand je serai vieille je vais vivre en France
Sunny Clucker, she came, she saw, she moved on!
Top
User avatar
LittleBrownFrog
Legendary Laner
Posts: 4477
Joined: 09 Jan 2012, 20:06
Gender: Female

Re: Is this lemon balm?

Post by LittleBrownFrog »

Yes, dead nettle then. Thank you :-D
"Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder..." Thoreau.
Top
User avatar
lancashire lass
Legendary Laner
Posts: 6544
Joined: 28 Jun 2007, 15:17

Re: Is this lemon balm?

Post by lancashire lass »

With lemon balm, when you crush the leaves it is not just a whiff of lemon scent, but a strong mouth watering tang )t' So unmistakable once you've come across it.
Top
User avatar
julie62
Legendary Laner
Posts: 2025
Joined: 16 Apr 2011, 00:54
Gender: Female
Location: Salford, Manchester

Re: Is this lemon balm?

Post by julie62 »

It doesn't look like my lemon balm but the variety I've got is variegated the leaf is a different shape though.
Julie

“cockerels may crow but it's the hen that lays the egg."
Top
Maggie1

Re: Is this lemon balm?

Post by Maggie1 »

Have a look at this. There's all different shaped leaves.

http://www.google.ie/search?q=images+of ... 92&bih=541
Top
Post Reply

Return to “Other Gardening; Flowers, Care & Maintenance”