sweet balm

5.7

A bushy herb in the mint family with lemon-scented leaves, also called lemon balm

noun
/swit bɑlm/

: bálsamo dulce

The leaves of sweet balm make a soothing herbal tea.

Examples

I planted sweet balm in my herb garden to attract bees and butterflies.
The sweet balm has a lovely fragrance.
Sweet balm escaped from gardens and now grows wild in some regions.
I planted a sweet balm in my garden.
I planted sweet balm in my herb garden to attract bees and butterflies.
The leaves of sweet balm make a soothing herbal tea.
Sweet balm escaped from gardens and now grows wild in some regions.

Synonyms

lemon balm

vssweet balm

1 3.0

A herb with lemon-scented leaves used in cooking and teas

is the botanical plant description not mainly about uses

garden balm

vssweet balm

6.2

A bushy plant with lemon-scented leaves and small white or yellow flowers that people use in teas

is the alternative name not focused on garden habit

Melissa officinalis

vssweet balm

Specialized

8.1

A lemon-scented herb used in teas and cooking, also called lemon balm

is the common garden name rather than the Latin name

field balm

vssweet balm

8.8

A low-growing herb with lemon-scented leaves used to make calming tea

is the bushier garden variety rather than the low growing regional type

Surface Forms

sweet balm singular

sweet balms plural

Morphology

sweet + balm

The meaning is directly derivable from 'sweet' (pleasantly scented) + 'balm' (an aromatic, soothing substance or plant): together they indicate an aromatic/soothing herb. This simple adjective+noun naming pattern for plants is common and would be understood by a B1 learner who knows both constituents (even if they might not know the specific species name).

Etymology

Sweet balm comes from the plant being used as a soothing balm and from its pleasant, lemon-scented sweet smell. So, the name helps you remember it is a fragrant herb used to 'soothe' and make calming tea.