<em>Melittis melissophyllum</em>, melittis: planting and care

Description and botany

La Melittis melissophyllum, commonly called Melittis, wood melittis or Melittis with lemon-balm leaves, is a herbaceous perennial of the family Lamiaceae, growing in open, damp woods and along wooded paths of western Europe. Genus comprises only one species widespread across France and often confused with lemon balm or white nettle, to which it is closely related. Melittis melissophyllum has produced two hybrids, one with white flowers, the other white with purple speckles.

Plant quickly forms a handsome clump with bushy, erect habit, 20 to 70 cm high and spreading to 50 cm wide.

On sparsely ramified, bristly stems, unfold large green leaves, petiolate, ovate, arranged in opposite pairs. Villous, rough and slightly wrinkled, with a crenate margin and prominent veins, leaves measure 4 to 8 cm long.

This deciduous foliage, whose shape strongly recalls that of white nettle and lemon balm, is highly aromatic. When crushed, leaves release a scent of honey and lemongrass mingled with freshly cut hay.

Melittis melissophyllum – botanical illustration by Johann Georg Sturm

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

Flowers, inclined to one side, are grouped two to six together in leaf axils of upper leaves. Initially tubular, they open into a bilabiate corolla 2 to 4 cm long divided into four lobes set within a campanulate, hairy calyx. Upper lip is erect and delicately cut into three small teeth, lower lip divided into three spreading lobes. Each of these sumptuous little flowers, of pure white or white with a pink lower lip or speckled with mauve, releases a cluster of protruding stamens with yellow anthers.

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

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

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

Perfectly hardy to at least -15°C, melittis or wood melittis can be grown throughout France. This shade‑loving plant prefers partial shade though it tolerates sun or full shade, and thrives in all soil types, even calcareous, provided soils are light and rich in humus.

Used as mother tincture, in infusion or herbal tea for its therapeutic properties similar to those of 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, widely cultivated hybrids: ‘Royal Velvet’, with flowers bearing a mauve lip, and ‘Alba’, with pure-white flowering.

Most popular

Melittis melissophyllum

This is the type species, the only one of the genus, with its handsome aromatic satiny bright-green dentate foliage and bicoloured 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 its sumptuous white flowers punctate with purple. It shoots in dry shade, under 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 or Melittis melissophyllum?

Melittis or Melittis melissophyllum acclimatises without problem in all our gardens, tolerating negative temperatures down to at least -15°C.

If this perennial of light woodland prefers shaded positions, it will tolerate non‑scorching sun and even deep shade. Not bothered by competition from roots, it will even grow in dry shade under trees.

Easy to grow, it suits any light soil, from not too dry to fresh, well‑draining, even calcareous and fairly rich in humus.

Taller than wide, it generally occupies 30 to 50 cm of width at ripeness, so give it a spot where it can thrive.

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

Melittis melissophyllum ‘Alba’

When to plant melittis or Melittis melissophyllum?

Melittis with lemon balm leaves (Melittis) is planted in spring from February to May or in autumn from September to October, outside frost periods.

How to plant Melittis with lemon balm leaf or Melittis melissophyllum?

In open ground

For a light effect in a border, plant our melittis in bucket in groups of 4 to 6 per m2, spacing the plants 0.40 to 0.60 m in all directions. In heavy soil, add compost and gravel to lighten it and improve drainage.

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

And find our advice to plant a perennial correctly!

In pot or in planter

• Spread a good layer of grit or clay balls at the bottom of a drained container
• Plant the bucket upright in a sandy, well‑draining mix of garden soil, coarse sand and potting compost
• Mulch the crown
• Water regularly, never letting the substrate dry out between waterings

Care and maintenance

Hardy and vigorous, Melittis requires almost no care once well established in well-drained soil.

Although the plant copes fairly well with soil dried out by tree roots and can withstand short periods of drought, still provide regular waterings from June to September during the first year.

Mulch in spring with a good layer of dry straw or turf to help retain moisture around the base and fertilise at the same time.

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

In autumn, cut back the old foliage to encourage the growth of new leaves in spring.

Potted Melittis require more regular watering — at least once a week, even in winter if it doesn’t rain — and a liquid feed every fortnight to encourage flowering.

All above-ground parts of the plant die back in winter: mark its position if necessary with stakes to avoid damaging the clumps when weeding and to make it easier to control slugs and snails in spring.

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

Melittis melissophyllum

Potential diseases and pests

Melittis melissophyllum is hardy and free from any disease. In poorly drained soil saturated with water in winter, it will be prone to root rot. Its young fresh shoots are prey to slugs and snails at the start of the growing season. Protect it from their attacks with our 7 ways to tackle slugs effectively and naturally.

Propagation

To propagate the Melitte with lemon-balm leaf, two options: le sowing or division of clumps in spring.

By direct sowing

It is a perennial that self-seeds freely in light soil and is very easy to propagate from seeds collected in autumn in garden. Sowing is carried out from February to May depending on climate directly in pots or in open ground. In colder regions, wait until May when frosts have finished.

• In well-aerated soil, sow in clumps 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 advice to succeed in sowing perennial plants!

By dividing clumps

This is done when plant is well rooted, at least after 2 years following planting.

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

Associate

With its simple appearance, Melittis naturally finds its place in all natural and wild gardens, in meadowy herbaceous borders of a cottage garden, shady rockeries, woodland edges and in naturalistic prairies. It is ideal in a shade garden or under trees, where few plants will grow, surrounded by wild-looking plants and dry-shade perennials such as Great comfrey.

An idea for a shady planting combination: 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 a must in romantic-inspired spring scenes, accompanied by hybrid pulmonarias, hardy geraniums and Omphalodes cappadocica.

At the edge of a fresh romantic border, plant it at the 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?”