Plant guide
Lemon balm
Melissa officinalis
Lemon balm is non-toxic to cats. Keep persistent nibbling in check, since eating plant material can still upset the stomach. This guidance covers the plant, not concentrated oils or supplements.
Non-toxic does not mean edible. Eating plant material can still upset your cat’s stomach.
What this guide covers: Melissa officinalis only. Confirm the botanical identity; a photograph alone cannot establish plant identity.
Photo:
Photo details
Melissa officinalis — Melissa officinalis
By Forest and Kim Starr
License: CC BY 2.0
Resized and converted to WebP for display; botanical details unchanged.
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Photo:
Photo details
Melissa officinalis — Melissa officinalis
By Forest and Kim Starr
License: CC BY 2.0
Resized and converted to WebP for display; botanical details unchanged.
Lemon balm plant
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Non-toxic does not mean edible. Chewing plants can still upset your cat’s stomach.
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Look for Melissa officinalis and check the selected variety. Listings and availability can change.
Plant identity
- Scientific name
- Melissa officinalis
- Scope
- Species
- Family
- Not recorded
- Also known as
- No reviewed aliases available
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How to grow this plant
Melissa officinalis only. Confirm the botanical identity; a photograph alone cannot establish plant identity.
- Light
- Sunny position or Some direct sun
Full sun to partial shade.
- Watering
Well-drained soil; established plants tolerate dry periods.
- Temperature
- Temperature range not yet established
No preferred numerical temperature range established.
- Humidity
No specific humidity target established.
- Potting
- Moist to dry, well-drained soil.
- Through the year
- A container helps limit spreading. Remove spent flower stalks to reduce self-seeding.
Growing-guide sources
- Melissa officinalis ↗NC State Extension · Accessed 2026-10-16
Melissa officinalis only. Confirm the botanical identity; a photograph alone cannot establish plant identity.
Growing advice reviewed 2026-10-16. Plant safety is assessed separately.
Reviewed safety information
- Toxic principle
- Not recorded in the reviewed evidence
- Reported signs
- Not recorded in the reviewed evidence
Missing information is unknown. It should not be interpreted as an absence of risk.
Safe alternatives
No verified alternative recommendations are available for this guide.