# Bastard Balm (*Melittis melissophyllum*) Bastard Balm is a lovely plant with soft, fuzzy leaves and pretty flowers. It likes to grow in shady places and can attract bees and butterflies, making it a favorite in gardens. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Bastard Balm](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Melittis_melissophyllum_010603.jpg&width=800) Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Melittis_melissophyllum_010603.jpg) ## Appearance The Bastard Balm has distinctive two-lipped flowers, often white with purple or pink markings, emerging from leaf axils. Its upright stems are covered in soft, hairy, dark green leaves, giving the plant a textured appearance. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Lamiales - **Family:** Lamiaceae - **Genus:** Melittis ## Interesting facts - Even though it looks delicate, this plant can thrive for many years, returning to bloom in the same spot each spring! - Its quirky name "Bastard Balm" might come from its resemblance to true balm mint but not being quite the same! - Some cultures traditionally believed its sweet scent had calming properties, using it for peaceful feelings. - The intricate pattern on its lower flower lip acts like a landing strip, guiding bees straight to its nectar prize! ## Special abilities - **Scented Charm:** Bastard Balm can release a sweet, lemon-like fragrance that helps it attract specific pollinators like bees from far away. - **Hairy Defense:** Bastard Balm has soft, hairy stems and leaves that help protect it from some hungry insects and retain moisture in dry spells. - **Two-Lipped Trap:** Bastard Balm has uniquely shaped, two-lipped flowers that guide insect pollinators directly to its pollen, ensuring successful reproduction. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 20-60 cm - **Spread:** 20-40 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-3 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Drinks nectar and collects pollen. - **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed Bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — One of its primary insect visitors. - **Pollinates:** White-tailed Bumblebee (*Bombus lucorum*) — Another common pollinator species. ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants without asking an adult first. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Bastard Balm? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Bastard Balm? 20-60 cm ### How wide does Bastard Balm spread? 20-40 cm ### How big are the flowers on Bastard Balm? 2-3 cm ### When does Bastard Balm bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is Bastard Balm edible? No ### Is Bastard Balm toxic? None ### What is Bastard Balm's lifecycle? Perennial ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Bastard Balm: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bastard-balm)