Monarda pronounced (Mon-nard-uh) more commonly known as “Bee Balm” is a herbaceous perennial plant native to North America.
These favorite garden perennials flower in late summer and commonly found in herb and flower gardens across the country.
The bee bomb plant has a long history of medicinal uses by Eclectic American physicians, Native American tribes, and herbalist.
Where Did The Name Monarda Come From?
The genus Monarda is named after Nicolas Baptista Monardes a Spanish physician and botanist who in 1569 first described American flora. [source]
Monarda is a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae), with over 40 “accepted” varieties and species according to the Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. [source]
Monarda is the genus of which several common names are used to refer to the 40 or so species and cultivars. Common names include:
- Bee Balm
- Oswego Tea – refers to the refreshing beverage made from the leaves.
The common name “bergamot” comes from the leaves fragrance reminiscent of (Citrus bergamia) the bergamot orange.
NOTE: The common garden species of Monarda once introduced to England soon became popular as cottage-garden and herb plants.
What Do Bee Balm Plants And Flowers Look Like?
Planted in groups Monarda forms bold, bushy clumps making them useful plants for background planting.
The crown-shaped bee bomb flowers appear somewhat wispy with a spiral, spidery pattern near the end of the stalks. The blooms attract gardeners, butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.
The color of Monarda fistulosa – pronounced (fiss-tew-loh-suh) and known as the [wild bergamont] is lavender and Monarda didyma pronounced (did-im-ah) also known as the [scarlet bee balm] is red, but you’ll find new varieties and hybrids in an array of colors including:
- and many shades in between
The dark green leaves are pleasingly aromatic and somewhat coarse.
How Tall Does Bee Balm Grow?
Wild bergamot grows in dense clusters with striking flowers sitting atop three-foot high stems in mid to late summer.
However, plant size varies considerably. Today’s hybrids and cultivars feature dwarf selections of just 12” in height and other varieties reaching over 4 feet tall.
How To Grow Bee Balm
The hybrids of the two most popular species hold the most interest to the home gardener.
Both are useful in wild gardens, growing bee balm in semi-shade, and in attractive perennial borders.
They make colorful additions to herb gardens and can be naturalized along stream banks and around ponds.
Depending on the variety beebalm plants grow in USDA Hardiness zones 4 – 9. [source]
What Are The Bee Balm’s Soil And Light Requirements?
Bee Balm grows easily in most soils. However, it does well in a garden bed with rich garden soil or well-drained soil on the alkaline side, that retains moisture.
Select a location that receives full sun or partial shade in the afternoon to encourage the best flowering.
How Much Water Does Bee Balm Need?
Bee balm plants like an even supply of moisture throughout the growing season, though they will tolerate periods of drought. Watering with a soaker hose easily keeps Monarda soil moist.
During dry periods, water plants twice a week. Apply mulch to conserve moisture and reduce watering, soak the soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches.
The roots of the Wild Bergamot – Monarda fistulosa – apparently handles dryer conditions better than Monarda didyma.
How Much Space Does Monarda Plant Need?
Bee Balm plants look most effective planted in mass.
Spacing plants 12” – 24” inches apart, encourages proper air circulation and minimizing powdery mildew disease.
How To Care For Bee Balm – What And When To Fertilize
The Bee-blam plant does not require frequent feeding.
Over-fertilizing can cause rampant, succulent growth increasing the severity of powdery mildew.
How To Grow Bee Balm In A Pot Or Container?
Instead of growing these in a garden some homeowners want to know how to grow monarda in pots.
They could be tight on the space required for the plants, or they may be concerned about their planting becoming invasive in their garden.
Monarda is from the mint family known for its rapid growth! Growing in bee balm in containers allow better control over any invasive issues. They almost make attractive additions to the deck and patio.
- Using a well-draining potting soil fill a 7 – 10-gallon pot about one-third full. Water the soil and allow any excess water to drain.
- Remove the plant from the nursery container and place it on top of the soil in the new pot.
- The crown of the plant should be approximately 1 ½ inches below the rim of the pot. Add or remove soil to adjust the height of the plant.
- Once the height is adjusted finish filling the pot with soil, lightly press the soil in place and water the plant thoroughly
- Place the newly potted bee balm is an area with full sun all-day or full morning sun and light afternoon shade.
- Make sure the location has good air circulation. Open decks or a patio are great places for the plant and for you to enjoy.
- During the spring and summer months, water thoroughly when the top inch or so of soil becomes dry. Reduce watering during fall and winter months. Do not allow the soil to dry completely.
- After the first frost or when the plant dies back naturally prune back stems to about 2” inches from the top of the soil. Dispose of the pruned material.
Most Bee Balm Monarda cultivars reach a height of 2.5 to 4 feet tall. However, dwarf varieties
Container Growing Best Practices
- Monitor potted plants for powdery mildew
- Avoid watering from overhead
- Keep foliage dry
- Remove infected leaves to prevent the potential spread of fungus mildew
How To Winterize Bee Balm
Pruning bee balm in mid-autumn helps get the plant ready for winter.
Also in mid-autumn add a 1” inch layer of mulch around the roots.
When spring arrives, and the ground warms up, remove the mulch to get plants ready for new spring growth.
When Will My Bee Balm Flower And How Long Do They Bloom?
One of the nice assets of the Bee Balm is the long blooming season and easy culture.
Native from Quebec south to Georgia and Tennessee, the crimson-scarlet flowers of Monarda didyma display their showy colors from June to early fall.
The blooms of Monarda fistulosa the lilac to purple “Wild Bergamot” a native from Maine to Florida and Louisiana begin to appear in July and August. It is most impressive and effective when naturalized.
How To Keep Bee Balm Blooming
To increase lateral growth and more bee balm flowers, pinch back the stem tips in early spring when plants reach about three feet tall.
Using your fingers pinch out the first set of leaves on 1/3 of the stems. Staggering the pinching encourages a longer display of flowers.
Wait a week, and pinch another one-third and the last one-third of stems in the third week. Distributing the pinching evenly ensures that the bloom colors will appear uniformly.
How To Prune Bee Balm
A faster and easier alternative to pinching especially if you have lots of plants to pinch back is to cut the whole plant back.
Using a pair of hand clippers, cut back the entire plant by half when it reaches 12 inches tall.
If plants still grow tall and lanky cut off one-third of the growth.
Deadheading Monarda Plants
Here’s how to deadhead bee balm.
To keep plants flowering, remove dead flowers. Pinch the stem back just above the next flower bud.
When finished blooming, cut plants back to the ground. Use garden clippers to cut stems too rigid to pinch and encourage vigorous spring growth.
The Monarda plant attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies but also functions in the garden as a deer repellant.
Before you can sow seed, you first need to acquire the seed to plant. You can purchase seed or collect the seed.
How To Collect Bee Balm Seeds
Expect Monarda seeds to mature one to four weeks after blooming.
- When collecting seeds wait until the flowers fade and seedhead (flower) turns brown and is ready to harvest.
- Test for maturity by placing a brown bag over the seedhead
- Bend the seedhead over and shake the white to cream-colored, or light brown to dark brown seeds into the brown bag [source]
- The seeds are mature and ready to harvest if they fall into the bag
- Next, the cut flowerhead into a brown bag and allow the seedhead to dry even longer
- After drying several more days shake to get more seed out of the flowerhead
- Spread the collected seeds out on a paper towel to dry for an additional few days
- Label and store dried seeds in the refrigerator in a sealed container like a ball jar.
Both Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) and Monarda didyma produce plenty of seed.
NOTE: Some of the newer cultivars produced may NOT produce seed.
How To Plant Bee Balm Seeds
- Sow seeds directly in the flower garden after all the danger of frost
- When starting indoors, sow seeds in pots 5 to 8 weeks before the last expected frost
- Cover seeds lightly with an eighth inch of moist soil and give them plenty of space
- When transplanting to the garden, dig a good size hole, apply general-purpose fertilizer and firm the soil around the plant.
- Water thoroughly
Dividing Clumps Of Monarda
Although you can start Bee Balm from seeds, the easiest way to propagate is by the division of clumps.
Plants can spread quickly and need dividing every 3 or 4 years during the spring.
When new growth appears in spring, using a knife cut out the center hardwood section and divide into multiple clumps.
Throw out old center hardwood section and replant the outer shoots and roots 12” – 24” inches apart.
Uses For Monarda Plants In The Garden
A long blooming season makes planting bee balm an excellent choice for sunny, showy perennial borders.
- They make colorful additions when naturalized around ponds or included in herb gardens.
- As the common name “bee balm” implies, bees love the tasty nectar the colorful flowers supply.
- Other pollinators who love the nectar are hummingbirds and butterflies. It is a must in any butterfly garden.
- The strong scent proves an effective mosquito repellent plant. Generally, its ability to control mosquito works best when leaves are crushed to release the fragrant essential oils.
Other Uses For Bee Balms
- Dry leaves for use as a tea to soothe cold symptoms, sore throat, headache, and congestion.
- Made into a tincture
- Oswego tea or bee balm tea is used to treat stomach issues such as gas, vomiting, nausea, and reduce muscle spasm.
- Dry leaves and flowers to use as an aromatic suitable for sachets and potpourri.
- Monarda contains high concentrations of Thymol, a strong antiseptic, common in mouthwashes.
According to Cornell University, the “Red-flowered forms are reputed to make the most flavorable teas and be more resistant to deer damage.” [source]
Top Monarda Varieties
The Mt. Cuba Center spent 3 years in a trial which included 40 Monarda species and cultivars.
The characteristics of each cultivar were evaluated for foliage, habit, quality, disease resistance and floral display. [source]
Below are the Monarda varieties selected as the best performers for the mid-Atlantic region.
- Monarda fistulosa ‘Claire Grace’
- Monarda ‘Dark Ponticum’
- Monarda ‘Violet Queen’
- Monarda ‘AChall’ (Grand Marshall)
- Monarda ‘Judith’s Fancy Fuchsia’
- Monarda ‘Colrain Red’
- Monarda ‘Raspberry Wine’
- Monarda ‘Purple Rooster’
- Monarda ‘On Parade’
- Monarda ‘Gardenview Scarlet’
It is always fun to read about plants from decades ago and WHAT we can learn. Below comes from a 1950 article (with minor edits) describing Bee Balm or Monarda.