Difference Between Lemon Balm and Mint

1. Difference of blades

The leaves of lemon balm are oval, generally 5 cm long and 3-4 cm wide when growing on the stems, and relatively smaller when growing on the branches, 1-3 cm long and 0.8-2 cm wide, with obtuse or acute tips, rounded to nearly cordate bases, serrated edges, nearly membranous or herbaceous, and with long soft hairs.

Mint leaves are oblong-lanceolate, elliptical or ovate-lanceolate, rarely oblong, with a sharp tip, a cuneate to nearly circular base, and coarse tooth-like serrations on the edges. Compared with the former, the pubescence is shorter and less obvious.

2. The difference between flowers

The inflorescence of lemon balm is leaf-shaped, but the bracts are much smaller than the leaves, the calyx is bell-shaped, and the corolla is milky white.

The mint cymes are axillary, spherical in outline, with thin pedicels, tubular bell-shaped calyx, lavender corolla and soft hairs on the outside.