Lemon Mint Bee Balm Seeds

Lemon Mint Bee Balm is an exquisite and fragrant flower serving a myriad of purposes in both your home and garden. Its edible flowers and foliage have a delightful lemony scent, drawing in beneficial insects and hummingbirds to enjoy the long-lasting blooms.

With its distinct flowers, it adds a captivating touch to both fresh and dried floral arrangements. In the kitchen, utilize Lemon Mint Bee Balm flowers as a decorative garnish and the leaves to infuse tea and other dishes with flavor.

Planting by Zones

Zones 9–10

• As with many flowers in Zones 9 and 10 and other areas with mild winters, you can plant Lemon Mint Bee Balm in the fall or spring. Fall plantings can be easier to establish as the plants will get to enjoy cooler temperatures and seasonal rainfall.

Zones 3–8

• Start seeds seven weeks before the last frost. Transplant out after the danger of frost is gone.

Planting Lemon Mint Bee Balm Seeds

• Seeds are very small and should be started in trays and transplanted out for the best results. When choosing to direct sow the seeds, cover seeds with a finely sifted layer of soil no more than 1/8″ deep.
• Germination can be slow when temperatures are colder than 60° F. Using a seedling heat mat and starting your seeds in a greenhouse or under a humidity dome will hasten the germination process.

Growing Lemon Mint Bee Balm

• Bee Balm enjoys full sun and partial shade and can grow in various soil conditions. It’s a versatile and easy-to-grow flower for flower arrangements and pollinator gardeners. It also makes an excellent dried flower.

Growing Lemon Mint Bee Balm in Containers

• If you are planting in containers, your container should be at least 10″ deep. The larger the container, the more blooms you will get from your bee balm. Keep in mind containers dry out faster because they have more surface area and less soil to hold onto moisture.

Harvesting Lemon Mint Bee Balm Flowers

• Harvest early, in the cool of the morning for the most attractive and long-lasting blooms.

Southern California Pro-tips

• In Zones 9 and 10, Lemon Mint Bee Balm will grow happily year-round in mild areas. 
• Start in the fall for the largest display of blooms in spring and summer. 
• Mulch heavily to ensure the soil stays cool and well-watered.
• DO NOT overhead water as this promotes disease.

Companion Flowers/Crops

• Lemon Mint Bee Balm looks lovely with most other warm season flowers in your flower, herb, or pollinator garden. Use it as an aromatic bouquet filler to accent flowers like dahlias, sunflowers, and zinnias. Search all our flower varieties here.

Additional Learning Resources

• New to starting crops from seeds? Please watch our Seed Starting Presentation to learn the basics.
• Learn about all our crops on our YouTube channel.