Japanese name: コウスイハッカ（香水薄荷） Scientific name:Melissa officinalis
[Overview]
A perennial growing to about 60 cm tall.
Leaves are simple and opposite, broadly ovate, about 8 cm long, hairy, with tooth-like serrations.
The veins on the upper surface of the leaves are sunken in a net-like pattern.
The leaves contain citral and smell of lemon.
Whorled cymes arise on the upper part of the stem, bearing a few small white flowers.
The corolla is two-lipped, and because it contains abundant nectar, honeybees visit often.
[Uses]
Besides yielding essential oil, it is used for herbal tea, potpourri, flavoring in cooking, bath additives and the like.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed, by division, or by cuttings.
It prefers bright shade and slightly moist soil.
It is strongly drought tolerant and also tolerates heat and humidity, but care is needed because when the branches become crowded, they become stuffy and disease may occur.
