Description:
As one might guess from the name, Bee Balm attracts bees
along with hummingbirds and other pollinators. These plants also serve as a
butterfly nectar source. It's fragrant leaves are used to make tea and potpourri.
Bee Balm has a tendency to become invasive, so division is necessary every
few years. Division should be done in the spring. Sometimes this plant is
infected with powdery mildew after flowering. If so, cut back to new foliage.
|
| Common
Name: |
Bee Balm, Wild Bergamont,
Oswego Tea, Horsemint, Bergamont |
| Botanical
Name: |
Monarda |
| Type: |
Perennial |
| Soil
Preference: |
This
plant tolerates occasional wetness and will grow in moist soil but prefers well-drained
soil with a pH of neutral. |
| Light
Requirements: |
Full sun to partial shade |
| Attributes: |
Naturalizing,
attracts birds, attracts butterflies, suitable for cut flowers, suitable for dried flowers |
| Pests: |
Aphids |
| Diseases: |
Rust, root and
crown rot. This plant is also susceptible to powdery mildew and rust if the soil is
overly dry and the air circulation is poor. |
| Good
Companion Plants: |
Black-Eyed
Susan, Coneflower,
Daylily, False
Sunflower, Gayfeather,
Goat's Beard, Rose Mallow,
Shasta Daisy,
Speedwell, Yarrow |
| Care: |
In spring, remove
dead foliage only. In fall, cut back to 6" and dead-head spent
flowers. Division is necessary and should be done in the spring. Fertilize
as directed with Plant-tone or slow-release Osmocote. Planting Instructions: Perennials |
| Varieties:
This variety listing is for
informational purposes only,
it is not a catalog.
To view our catalog or availability, click
here
|
Click on image to view larger size |
Monarda
didyma
'Adam'
Bee Balm
zones 4-9
|
| Description: Red flowers, withstands dry conditions better than others.
Fragrant foliage. |
| Bloom Color: |
Red |
| Bloom Time: |
June-August |
| Foliage Color: |
Green |
| Height: |
24-36" |
| Spread: |
20-24" |
|
Click on image to view larger size |
Monarda
didyma
'Blue Stocking'
Bee Balm
zones 4-10
|
| Description: Totally unique flowers are deep lilac colored. Fragrant
foliage. |
| Bloom Color: |
Purple |
| Bloom Time: |
June-August |
| Foliage Color: |
Green |
| Height: |
36-60" |
| Spread: |
24" |
|
Click on image to view larger size |
Monarda
'Fireball'
Bee Balm
zones 4-9
|
| Description: Dark green fragrant foliage with deep, red globe-shaped
blooms. |
| Bloom Color: |
Red |
| Bloom Time: |
July-August |
| Foliage Color: |
Dark green |
| Height: |
15" |
| Spread: |
24" |
|
Click on image to view larger size |
Monarda
didyma
'Gardenview Scarlet'
Bee Balm
zones 4-10
|
| Description: The distinctive flowers of 'Gardenview Scarlet' are brightly
rose-red colored. The fragrant green foliage is mildew resistant. |
| Bloom Color: |
Red |
| Bloom Time: |
June-August |
| Foliage Color: |
Green |
| Height: |
36" |
| Spread: |
24" |
|
Click on image to view larger size |
Monarda
didyma
'Jacob Cline'
Bee Balm
zones 4-9
|
| Description: The flowers of 'Jacob Cline' are showy, large and red with a
longer bloom season than others. the fragrant foliage is probably one of the best
for mildew resistance. Also serves as butterfly
nectar sources. Pinch or shear this plant in June to control its height and
encourage a later blooming period. |
| Bloom Color: |
Red |
| Bloom Time: |
June-August |
| Foliage Color: |
Green |
| Height: |
24-48" |
| Spread: |
24-36" |
|
Click on image to view larger size |
Monarda
didyma
'Marshal's Delight'
Bee Balm
zones 4-9
|
|
Description: Showy pink flowers are tighter than other
varieties. This plant also appears to be mildew resistant.
Foliage is fragrant. Plants serve as butterfly nectar sources. |
| Bloom Color: |
Pink |
| Bloom Time: |
June-August |
| Foliage Color: |
Green |
| Height: |
36-48" |
| Spread: |
24-36" |
|
Click on image to view larger size |
Monarda
didyma
'Panorama Red'
Bee Balm
zones
|
| Description: This superb new variety has gorgeous, showy
flowers in brilliant shades of red. Hummingbirds love it! |
| Bloom Color: |
Red |
| Bloom Time: |
June-September |
| Foliage Color: |
Dark green |
| Height: |
24-30" |
| Spread: |
|
|
Click on image to view larger size
Thank you to Walters Gardens for image use
|
Monarda
'Pardon My Pink'
Bee Balm
zones 4-9
|
| Description:
A petite selection reaching just a foot tall at maturity. From mid to late
summer, pink flowers (2½-3”) sit just at the top of the foliage. This
compact selection forms a bushy, well-branched clump of deep green, glossy
foliage. Good resistance to powdery mildew. |
| Bloom Color: |
Pink |
| Bloom Time: |
Mid-Summer to Fall |
| Foliage Color: |
Dark green |
| Height: |
10-12" |
| Spread: |
8-12" |
|
Click on image to view larger size
Thank you to Walters Gardens for image use
|
Monarda
'Pardon My Purple'
Bee Balm
zones 4-9
|
| Description:
A petite selection reaching just a foot tall at maturity. From mid to late
summer, fuchsia-purple flowers (2½-3”) sit just at the top of the foliage.
This compact selection forms a bushy, well-branched clump of deep green,
glossy foliage. Powdery mildew resistant. |
| Bloom Color: |
Fuchsia |
| Bloom Time: |
Mid-Summer to Fall |
| Foliage Color: |
Dark green |
| Height: |
10-12" |
| Spread: |
7-10" |
|
Click on image to view larger size |
Monarda x
'Petite Delight'
Bee Balm
zones 2-8
|
| Description: This exciting new lavender pink Bee Balm has a unique dwarf
form. It's foliage is dark green, fragrant, mildew resistant and crinkled.
'Petite Delight' deserves a spot in the front of your perennial border!
Hummingbirds and butterflies can't resist these flowers! |
| Bloom Color: |
Pink |
| Bloom Time: |
June-August |
| Foliage Color: |
Dark green |
| Height: |
12-15" |
| Spread: |
18-24" |
|
Click on image to view larger size |
Monarda
'Petite Wonder'
Bee Balm
zones 4-9
|
| Description: A slightly lower growing Bee Balm with light and clear pink
flowers. Has aromatic foliage which is disease resistant and holds its rich green
color well. Moderately mildew resistant. |
| Bloom Color: |
Pink |
| Bloom Time: |
June-August |
| Foliage Color: |
Green |
| Height: |
9-10" |
| Spread: |
18" |
|
Click on image to view larger size
Thank you to Walters Gardens for image use
|
Monarda
'Pink Lace'
Bee Balm
zones 4-9
|
| Description:
This mid-sized selection of Bee Balm is the perfect size for the middle of
the flower border. Medium pink flowers are produced atop densely rounded
clumps of bright green foliage from midsummer to early fall. |
| Bloom Color: |
Pink |
| Bloom Time: |
Mid Summer to Fall |
| Foliage Color: |
Green |
| Height: |
16" |
| Spread: |
12-15" |
|
Click on image to view larger size |
Monarda
'Purple Rooster'
Bee Balm
zones 4-9
|
| Description:
When Walters Gardens
visited The Flower Factory, a unique retail nursery in Stoughton, Wisconsin,
a few summers ago, they were struck by the fantastic true royal purple
flowers and clean foliage of ‘Purple Rooster’. It was flying off the
benches there, selling on impulse, as it had been for about twenty
years. Upon inquiring with the owners, David and Nancy Nedveck, they learned
that David had selected this purple flowering plant from a batch of M.
didyma seedlings and named it ‘Purple Rooster’ after his love for
roosters. To his knowledge, they are the only retailer that has ever sold
this fantastic variety since David selected and named it so long ago. We
brought home a few to try for ourselves and were equally impressed with its
performance. Large, true royal purple flowers were produced over most of
the summer on clean, mildew-free plants that never required staking despite
their three foot height. |
| Bloom Color: |
Purple |
| Bloom Time: |
June-August |
| Foliage Color: |
Green |
| Height: |
36" |
| Spread: |
26" |
|
Click on image to view larger size |
Monarda x
'Raspberry Wine'
Bee Balm
zones 4-9
|
| Description: Deep wine colored flowers appear as "raspberries"
in bud stage. Mildew resistant. |
| Bloom Color: |
Red |
| Bloom Time: |
June-August |
| Foliage Color: |
Green |
| Height: |
24-36" |
| Spread: |
24-36" |
