Growing native Bee Balm
Bee Balm Monarda Didyma
Description:
Striking red flowers that look like Jesters’ hats and last for weeks give this plant a slightly comical air. Its stem is square (characteristic of plants in the mint family) and its leaves are dark green, sometimes flushed with dark red. Quickly growing into a large, tall clump, bee balm is altogether a sturdy, colorful addition to the garden.
Maintenance and requirements:
Although bee balm prefers moist places in the wild, it can be grown in average moisture conditions in the garden.
Versatile in its light requirements, from partial shade to full sun, and also in its PH tolerance, from slightly acidic to neutral (pH 5.5 to 6.5), bee balm is very easy to grow. The only problem you might encounter is mold, which often covers the leaves in a whitish film, signaling that the plant is crowded and not getting enough air movement; divide plants every few years, and don’t spray eaves when watering. Deadhead to extend blooming.
Height: 2-5 feet (60 to 150 cm)
Blooming period: Early to mid-summer
Exposure: Partial shade to full sun
Moisture: Moist to average
Habitat: Moist woods, moist meadows
Range: North East – North America
Propogation:
Bee Balm is easy to start from seeds. Simply sprinkle seeds in pots or a bed in late fall or early spring (seeds do not need cold stratification). Or divide the plant in early spring, which is not only useful for propagation, but also helps keep the plant from getting too crowded in the center.
Good Companions:
At the woodland edge, plant bee balm with black-eyed susan (Rudbeckia hirta) and woodland sunflower (Helianthus divaricatus).
Related Species:
Wild Bergamot (M. Fistulosa)
Wildlife:
Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds swarm this plant for nectar.
Misc.:
Also known as Oswego tea, because the plants were used by the Oswego Indians for a hot drink. Bruise its aromatic leaves for the scent of Earl Grey Tea.
I grow two of the hybrid species of Bee balm and I love them. Their care is exactly the same as that of the native species that I’ve described above. Enjoy!
