Lemon Balm vs Lemon Verbena: Lemon Scented Herbs
If you love the citrusy aroma of lemon-scented fresh herbs, chances are you’ve heard of lemon balm and lemon verbena. But what’s the difference? While both herbs share a delightful lemon fragrance, they come from entirely different families and offer distinct flavors, uses, and benefits.
Let’s dive into the differences between these two aromatic plants and explore how they can enhance your garden, kitchen, and wellness routine.
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Origins and Botanical Differences
Lemon balm and lemon verbena plants are different plants that sometimes get confused for one another (not to be confused with lemon grass).
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is part of the mint family and is native to Southern Europe and Northern Africa. It has been cultivated for centuries for its medicinal properties and ability to attract pollinators. Lemon Balm has rough-textured leaves with a more rounded shape.
Lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora), on the other hand, is a woody shrub from the Verbenaceae family, native to South America. This small plant has become popular for its intense lemon fragrance. Lemon verbena has longer, slender leaves with a point.
Flavor and Aroma
Both lemony herbs boast a delightful scent with bright green leaves, but their flavor profiles differ a bit.
Lemon Balm offers a mild, herbaceous lemony flavor with subtle minty undertones. It’s less intense than lemon verbena and has a grassy, slightly sweet taste, reminiscent of lemongrass.
Lemon Verbena is known for its strong, pure lemon flavor with a hint of spice and floral. It’s often considered the most “lemony” of all lemon-scented herbs, making it a favorite for both culinary and aromatic uses.
Culinary Uses for Lemon Balm and Lemon Verbena
Both of these bright herbs boast fragrant leaves that can be used in all sorts of cooking, but their strengths shine in different areas. Lemon Balm works really well in savory meals, such as fish dishes, poultry, and vegetable seasonings. It’s also great for herbal teas, salad dressings, and infused oils.
Lemon Verbena is great for desserts and beverages, including custards, cakes, sorbets, ice cream, and cocktails. Its bold lemon flavor makes it a fantastic addition to tea and simple syrup too!
Both work great in fruit salads, tea blends, and as garnishes.
Herbal Remedies Using Lemon Balm and Lemon Verbena
Historically, both herbs have been used for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and positive effects on the body. You can use these for simmer pots too for an amazing smelling home.
Fresh Lemon Balm leaves are known for their calming and soothing properties, often used to help reduce stress, anxiety, and sleep disorders. It has been studied for its potential effects on cognitive function and digestion.
Fresh young leaves of lemon balm plants “boast an array of phytochemicals, including rosmarinic acid, citral, oleanolic acid, and ursolic acid, which are believed to underpin these effects on psychological well-being” (source).
Lemon Verbena tea is often used to aid digestion and relieve bloating. It’s also rich in antioxidants and has been used for skin health and inflammation reduction.
Lemon verbena has been said to contain compounds that help fight oxidative stress, similarly to green tea. It also contains “Luteolin, a kind of flavonoid, which possesses anti-oxidative, anti-tumor, and anti-inflammatory properties” (source).
*While lemon verbena is great for us, it may be toxic to horses, dogs, and cats (source).
Growing Conditions for Lemon Balm and Lemon Verbena
If you’re considering adding these herbs to your herb garden, here’s what you need to know.
Lemon Balm is a perennial plant that does well in partial shade to full sun. It thrives in well-draining soil and is relatively easy to grow from seed in most climates.
It will get pretty large and start to take over if you let it! Harvest fresh leaves often and pick flowers before they seed. You can also propagate from cuttings and share with friends!
Lemon Verbena can be a perennial in warmer climates (or can be brought inside for the winter). It requires full sun, well-drained soil, and warmer temperatures. I recommend purchasing a plant rather than starting from seed.
It’s more sensitive to cold and may need protection in cooler climates. It usually tops out at about 2-3 feet in height and can also be propagated by clipping semi-ripe cuttings throughout the summer.
Storing Herbs
You can keep these herbs a number of ways including freezing and drying. To freeze, you can add fresh herbs to ice cube trays and top with water (for teas) or olive oil (for cooking).
Remove when frozen and store in a bag in the freezer until needed. You can also dehydrate and store dried leaves in an airtight container or bag for long term storage.
Which Lemony Herb Should You Choose?
If you’re looking for a mild, versatile herb with a lemon note that works well in both savory and sweet dishes, lemon balm is a great choice. If you want a bold, citrusy punch for desserts and teas, lemon verbena is the way to go. You can even go big and use them together!
Both herbs bring a refreshing lemon essence to your kitchen and garden, each with its own unique charm. Whether you’re brewing a soothing tea or crafting a fragrant dessert, incorporate lemon balm and lemon verbena into your herbal collection this year!
Which one is your favorite? Let me know how you use these lemony delights! 🍋🌿 Other lemony herbs you might like to try include Lemon Basil, Lemon Thyme, and Lemon Eucalyptus.
