I know cats do not like citrus smell...lemon, orange etc...
I ask because someone asked the question of me .
Will lemon balm repell cats?
Not true ~ my lemon balm doesn't draw them but it certainly doesn't repel them either. One of these special DGrs sent me a package of lemon catnip and that didn't repel the cats either. They still molested it. Of course all cats are individual too.
I agree with Pod. I have never seen cats rolling in the lemon balm patch like they do the catnip patch, but I don't see them avoiding it necessarily either. I was told it had to be fresh orange peels that repelled cats.
The orange peels don't work either...and if it were as simple as planting more lemon balm...ah, that would be the day!!
LOL ~ especially since it seems to "plant" itself by reseeding.
Honestly, Pod...I don't think it even needs seeds!!!
I finally placed mine in ground after I saw how well some volunteer seedlings overwintered. Is it as insiduous as the mints?
A large patch popped up in my herb bed this year and I haven't had any in that area for two years now.
I have no idea ...unless deeply buried roots finally made it to the surface?
I've heard that it spreads pretty darn aggressively - I have two pots, don't dare put it in.
I have a bunch, and my outdoor cat likes to lie in it, so I don't think it repels them. Re the orange peels, I have found laying them on a patch where you don't want cats does work to keep them off. I'm not sure it's the orange smell so much as the smell of the white pith.
I don't believe that citrus peels or lemon balm made any difference at all.