Monarda–commonly called bee balm–bears hooded red, pink, white, or lilac summer trumpet-shaped flowers borne in whorls. The flowers attract bees and butterflies. Monarda is a tall clump-forming perennial with, aromatic lance-shaped green leaves.
Monarda has dark green leaves with a strong pleasant odor of mint and basil.
Monarda is a perennial; it is not long-lived where winters are warm and summers are long and hot. It is prone to mildew where the soil is dry and the weather is humid.
Monarda is a genus of about 15 species of clump-forming rhizomatous perennials and annuals. They are native to prairies and woodlands of North America.
Get to Know Monarda
- Plant type: Perennial
- Growing Zones and range: 4-9
- Hardiness: Hardy to -30°F (-34°C)
- Height and width: 2 to 4 feet (.6-1.2m) tall; 1 to 3 feet wide; dwarf varieties grow 12 to 18 inches (30-45cm) tall and wide
- Foliage: Opposite lance-shaped or oval sometimes aromatic mid-to dark green leaves on square stems.
- Flowers: Tubular, sage-like flowers
- Flower colors: Violet, red, pink, white
- Bloom time: Midsummer
- Uses: Attracts hummingbirds, mixed borders, cottage gardens
- Common name: Bee balm, bergamot, Oswego tea, horsemint
- Botanical name: Monarda didyma
- Family: Lamiaceae
- Origin: Praurues and woodlands of North America
Where to Plant Monarda
- Grow Monarda in full sun in Zones 4-6, grow in part shade in Zones 7-9.
- Plant Monarda in humus-rich, well-drained soil.
Monarda Uses and Companions
- Plant Monarda in a mixed or herbaceous border. Monarda attracts bees and humingbirds.
- Plant Monarda in herb gardens and borders. Naturalize Monarda in a moist site.
- Good garden companions include Alchemilla mollis, Chrysanthemum superbum, Delphinium, Erigergon, Filipdendula, Hemerocallis, Lythrum.
When to Plant Monarda
- Set out established Monarda in spring or fall.
Planting and Spacing Monarda
- Space Monarda 1 to 3 feet apart depending on variety. Give bee balm plenty or room for air circulation of mildew may attract the plants.
How to Water and Feed Monarda
- Give Monarda moderate water; keep the soil evenly moist.
- Fertilize Monarda every 6 weeks with an all-purpose fertilizer or work a slow-release fertilizer into the soil in spring.
Monarda Care
- Mulch around Monarda to conserve soil moisture.
- Trim spend blossoms to prolong blooming.
- Divide Monarda every 2 to 4 years as needed.
- Monarda is susceptible to mildew, space plants for good air circulation.
- Cut plants back to the ground after flowering to promote fresh growth.
Monarda Pests and Diseases
- Monarda is prone to powdery mildew, rust, and leaf spot.
Monarda Propagation
- Monarda seeds germinate in 7 to 4 days at 60° to 70°F (16°-21°C).
- Sow seeds in a container in a cold frame in spring or autumn.
- Divide clumps in spring before new growth commences.
- Root basal cuttings in spring.
Monarda Varieties to Grow
- Monarda didyma: native to the eastern United States; scarlet flowers surrounded by reddish bracts; there are several cultivars including Marshall’s Delight’, ‘Gardenview Scarlet’, ‘Stone’s Throw Pink’, and ‘Violet Queen’ are mildew resistant; Dwarf varieties grow 12 to 18 inches tall.
- M. fistulosa bears lavender flowers to light pink encircled by whitish bracts; less showy than M. didyma.
