Bee Balm Growing Guide
Bee Balm (Monarda didyma) is a perennial wildflower native to Eastern North America that grows well in USDA Zones 4 to 9 and prefers full sun.
Other common names are: Monarda, Scarlet Bee Balm and Oswego Tea.
It is a member of the mint family with large showy flowers that come in red, pink and lavender that appear in midsummer through fall. They reach an average height of 3 to 4-feet tall and spread 18 to 36-inches.
The Native Americans used it to sooth bee stings and many other medicinal uses.
In addition to being deer resistant it is a nectar plant for butterflies such as the Monarch, Tiger Swallowtail, Viceroy and Painted Lady as well as hummingbirds and honeybees. In the fall when the seed heads dry out the seeds will attract goldfinches and other songbirds as well as self-seed.
Starting from Seed
Follow the seed packet instructions, seeds can be started indoors 6 to 8-weeks before your last expected frost date.
Sow seeds 1/4-inch deep. Germination takes 7 to 14-days.
You can direct sow in your flower garden in the late spring to early summer. A large mass planting makes an impressive display.
For more detailed information visit the seed starting page.
Soil Preparation
Plant in full sun and in a nice loose well-drained garden soil and do best in a slightly acid soil with a pH range of 6.0 to 7.0.
Planting
It should be planted in the late spring after the last expected frost.
Space the plants 18 to 24-inches apart or in groups of 3 or 5 behind other shorter plants. Dig a hole as deep as the pot and twice as wide. To the soil you just removed add the same amount of good garden soil so you have a nice blend of new and native soil.
Take the plant out of the pot and gently loosen the root ball pulling away any roots that have grown in a circle around the pot.
Place the root ball in the hole with the growing crown of the plant even with or an inch higher than the surrounding soil. Gently spread out the roots and back fill the hole around the root ball leaving a shallow depression around your plant. Fill the depression with water to settle the soil around the roots adding more soil if necessary and water again. Water daily tapering off as the roots grow and get established.
Watering and Care
Bee Balm is low maintenance and easy to care for. All you need to do is add a layer of mulch to help retain moisture and keep out competing weeds.
Your Bee Balm should get an inch of water each week and during dry spells give some water to keep the soil moist. They usually do not need any fertilizer, but a light side dressing of organic fertilizer can be placed around the plant in the spring.
Dividing Your Plants
After many years the center of the mature plant may die out, leaving the newer growth from the rhizomes. It usually becomes most apparent after a hard frost hits and the center becomes visible.
Doing the divisions every 3 to 5-years helps to rejuvenate the plant. To help prevent the spread of disease you should disinfect your garden tools and knife with a 10% bleach solution.
In the early spring about 4 to 6-weeks before the last frost date occurs and before growth begins, you can divide the clump into two, three or four sections.
Some gardeners will use a knife or a shovel to slice off a portion of the plant. A better way is to dig up the entire plant. Now you can see what you have. If you wash the soil off of the roots the entire rhizome and root structure can be seen.
Examine the rhizomes for the eyes or growing buds and carefully try to break it apart with your hands and then tease the roots apart. If necessary use a knife to separate the rhizomes.
You will now have more new plants that are identical to each other to replant or give away.
Diseases and Pests
Crown rot and powdery mildew is common after flowering. Use resistant varieties and thin plants to increase air circulation.
If your Bee Balm is affected by mildew in your area try planting a disease resistant variety such as: ‘Jacob’s Cline’ ‘Marshall’s Delight’ and ‘Petit Delight’
Popular Bee Balm Varieties
Popular varieties: Blue Stocking, Cambridge Scarlet, Croftway Pink, Fireball, Granite Pink, Jacob Cline, Marshall's Delight, Petite Delight, Pink Lace, Snow White.
Sources: Burpee, Select Seeds, Seeds Now.
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