<em>Melittis melissophyllum</em>, bastard balm: planting and care

Description and botany

La Melittis melissophyllum commonly known as Melittis, wood melittis or lemon-balm-leaved melittis is a perennial herbaceous young plant of the family Lamiaceae, occurring in open, damp woods and along wooded paths of western Europe. The genus comprises only a single species widespread across France and often confused with Melissa officinalis or white nettle, close relatives. Melittis melissophyllum has given rise to two hybrids, one with pure white flowers, the other with white flowers spotted with purple.

The plant quickly forms a handsome clump with a bushy, erect habit, 20–70 cm tall and spreading to about 50 cm wide.

On sparsely ramified, bristly stems bear large green leaves, petiolate, ovate, arranged in opposite pairs. Villous, rough and slightly wrinkled, with crenate margins and prominent veins, they measure 4–8 cm long.

This deciduous foliage, strongly reminiscent of white nettle and lemon balm, is highly aromatic. When crushed, leaves release a scent of honey and citronella with fresh-cut hay notes.

Melittis melissophyllum – botanical illustration by Johann Georg Sturm

Above this pubescent, both dense yet very light foliage, appear small inflorescences remarkable for their architecture and lightness, flowering from April to July depending on climate.

Flowers, all inclined to one side, are grouped two to six together in the axils of upper leaves. Initially tubular, they open into a bilabiate corolla 2–4 cm long, divided into four lobes enclosed in a campanulate, pilous calyx. Upper lip is erect and finely notched into three small teeth, lower lip divided into three spreading lobes. Each of these exquisite small flowers, pure white or white with a pink lower lip or spotted with mauve, displays a cluster of prominent stamens with yellow anthers.

These two-lipped flowers resemble those of nettles, betony or even miniature orchids.

Particularly nectariferous and melliferous—hence the plant’s name (from Greek mellita, meaning bee)—Melittis flowers are much visited by pollinating insects.

Inflorescences give way to small fruits containing four light-brown seeds that self-seed naturally in gardens.

Fully hardy to at least −15 °C, Melittis or wood melittis establishes itself throughout France. This understorey plant prefers partial shade although it tolerates sun or deep shade, and grows in all soil types including calcareous, preferably light and rich in humus.

Used as a mother tincture, in infusion or tisane for its therapeutic properties similar to lemon balm, Melittis melissophyllum is recognised for sedative, anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic effects. Its young edible leaves can also be eaten in salads.

Several colours of wild melittis: Melittis melissophyllum ‘Alba’, Melittis melissophyllum and Melittis melissophyllum ‘Royal Velvet’

Main species and varieties

Melittis melissophyllum has given rise to two interesting and widespread hybrids: ‘Royal Velvet’, with mauve-lipped flowers, and ‘Alba’, with pure-white flowering.

Most popular

Melittis melissophyllum

This is the type species, the only one of the genus with its handsome, satin-finished bright-green, dentate aromatic foliage and its bicolour flowers. A touch of originality in spring borders.

• Flowering time June, July
• Height at maturity 60 cm

See the product sheet

Our favourites

Melittis melissophyllum Royal Velvet

This handsome hybrid differs from the type species by sumptuous white flowers punctate with purple. Grows in dry shade, beneath trees, in shaded borders and even in a pot!

• Flowering time May, June
• Height at maturity 60 cm

See the product sheet

Planting

Where to plant Melittis (Melittis melissophyllum)?

Melittis (Melittis melissophyllum) acclimatises easily in gardens, tolerating negative temperatures down to at least -15°C.

If this perennial of light understoreys prefers shaded positions, it will tolerate non-burning sun and even full shade. Not fearing root competition, it will even grow in dry shade, under trees.

Easy to grow, it copes with any light soil, not too dry to fresh, well-draining, even calcareous and rather rich in humus.

Taller than wide, it usually occupies 30 to 50 cm in width at ripeness, so give it a spot where it can develop freely.

Easy to live with, it is ideal plant for natural or wild gardens. It adapts to many situations. In spring or summer it forms a pretty green bush, ideal to add relief and lightness to soft-edged borders, rock gardens, mixed-borders, naturalistic meadows or under trees at woodland edges. It is also useful to cover base of a hedge or bases of conifers. It is also very suitable for growing in pots to flower shaded terraces and balconies.

Melittis melissophyllum ‘Alba’

When to plant Melittis (Melittis melissophyllum)?

Melittis with melissa leaves can be planted in spring from February to May or in autumn from September to October, outside frost periods.

How to plant Melittis with melissa leaves (Melittis melissophyllum)?

In ground

For a lovely airy effect in a bed, plant our Melittis in buckets in groups of 4 to 6 per m2, spacing young plants 0.40 to 0.60 cm in all directions. In heavy soil, add compost and gravel to lighten it and improve drainage.

• Work soil well to break up compaction
• Dig a hole 2 to 3 times volume of the bucket
• Add river sand or gravel to bottom of planting hole
• Backfill
• Water well
• Mulch soil after planting

And find our tips for planting a perennial successfully!

In pot or planter

• Spread a good layer of gravel or clay balls at bottom of a pierced container
• Plant bucket upright in a free-draining sandy mix of garden soil, coarse sand and compost
• MULCH the crown
• Water regularly, never letting substrate dry out between waterings

Care and maintenance

Hardy and vigorous, Melittis needs virtually no care once well established in free-draining soil.

Although the plant tolerates soils dried out by tree roots and can withstand a spell of drought, give it regular waterings from June to September in the first year.

Mulch in spring with a good layer of dry straw or turf to keep the base sufficiently cool and to fertilise at the same time.

Melittis spreads spontaneously and naturalises easily from its small seeds. Cut plant back after flowering if you prefer to prevent self-seeding.

In autumn, cut back old foliage to encourage new leaf growth in spring.

Potted melittis require more regular waterings, at least once a week, even in winter if it does not rain, and a liquid fertiliser every 15 days to encourage flowering.

All above-ground parts die back in winter: optionally mark its location with stakes to avoid damaging clumps when weeding and to make slug control easier in spring.

How to care for a perennial? Here are our tips!

Melittis melissophyllum

Diseases and potential pests

Melittis melissophyllum is robust and free from disease. In poorly drained soil saturated with water in winter, it is susceptible to root rot.

Its fresh young shoots are prey to slugs and snails at the start of the growing season. Protect it from their attacks with our 7 ways to fight slugs effectively and naturally.

Multiplication

To propagate Melittis (bastard balm), two options: sowing or dividing clumps in spring.
Melittis (bastard balm), two options: sowing or dividing clumps in spring.

By direct sowing

This perennial self-seeds in light soil and is very easy to propagate from seeds collected in garden in autumn. Sowing takes place from February to May depending on climate, directly in pots or outdoors. In colder regions, wait until May when frosts have finished.

• In well-aerated soil, sow in small groups of 3 to 5 seeds spaced 40 to 60 cm apart
• Keep soil slightly moist until first shoots emerge after about 10 days

Follow our tips to succeed in sowing perennial plants!

By dividing clumps

Carry out when plant is well rooted, at least 2 years after planting.

• Using a spading fork, lift clump without damaging roots
• With a spade, take a few shoots from edge of clump
• Replant these divisions immediately in garden in a light, well-tilled soil

Associate

With its unassuming appearance, Melittis naturally finds its place in all naturalistic and wild gardens, in meadow-style beds of a cottage garden, in shady rockeries, on woodland edges and in naturalistic meadows. It is ideal in a shade garden or under trees, where few plants will grow, surrounded by plants with a wild look and by dry shade perennials such as great comfrey.

Shade planting idea: Melittis melissophyllum ‘Alba’, Hosta fortunei ‘Francee’, Heucherella ‘Sweet Tea’, Heucherella ‘Stoplight’ and Dicentra spectabilis ‘Alba’ (syn. Lamprocapnos spectabilis ‘Alba’)

Its pastel, delicate flowering makes it indispensable in spring scenes of romantic inspiration, accompanied by hybrid pulmonarias, hardy geraniums and Omphalodes cappadocica.

At edge of a cool romantic border, plant it at foot of shrub roses or alongside the large leaves of Hostas and the colourful foliage of Heucheras and creeping bugles.

Discover our planting ideas with our advice sheet “What to plant under trees?”