Lemon mint, known also as purple horse mint or lemon bee balm, is an aromatic winter annual with unusual, tuft-like, lavender- to pink-colored inflorence, with a citrus smell. It is part of the mint family (Lamiaceae) and when crushed, the scent of the leaves is reminiscent of the fruit of the actual lemon plant, while late in the season the scent is reminiscent of that of oregano. The flowers are a magnet for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
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Several stems grow from the base and are lined with pairs of lance-shaped leaves.
It is very easy to grow and tends to expand into large patches, especially if wells watered.
Swedish botanist, Carl Linnaeus named the genus Monarda in honor of a 16th century Spanish physician and botanist, Nicolas Bautista Monardes (1493-1588) who, though he never had the opportunity to visit the Americas, was able to study medicinal plants from the New World while in his own country, since Spain had control of the navigation and commerce from the New World.
Lemon mint is used to make herbal tea. I use it, either fresh when in season or dried in winter, to flavor a variety of dishes, in addition to flavor EVOO and Grappa. |
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