Botanical Name: Monarda
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Common Name: Beebalm  
Plant photo of: Monarda
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Water Saving Tip:

Group plants in your garden according to their water needs (hydrozone).

  • Anatomy

  • Culture

  • Design

Plant Type

Perennial, Herb, Wildflower

 

Height Range

1-3', 3-6'

 

Flower Color

Lavender, Pink, Purple, Red, Violet, White

 

Flower Season

Summer

 

Leaf Color

Green

 

Bark Color

n/a

 

Fruit Color

n/a

 

Fruit Season

n/a

Sun

Full, Half

 

Water

Medium, High, Extra in Summer

 

Growth Rate

Fast

 

Soil Type

Sandy, Clay, Loam

 

Soil Condition

Average, Rich, Well-drained, Moist

 

Soil pH

Neutral

 

Adverse Factors

Invasive

Design Styles

English Cottage, Meadow, Native Garden

 

Accenting Features

Showy Flowers

 

Seasonal Interest

Summer

 

Location Uses

Background, Perennial Border, With Rocks

 

Special Uses

Container, Cut Flowers, Mass Planting, Small Spaces

 

Attracts Wildlife

n/a

Information by: Stephanie Duer
Photographer: Bobbie Schwartz
  • Description

  • Notes

Beebalm are perennial herbs with lush, fragrant foliage, and unusual pincushion-like flowers that occur at the ends of branches. Flowers come in ranges of pinks, lavenders, burgundy, and white. Blooms early summer. Bee balm is a member of the mint family, and it shares many traits with the other mints, including fragrant foliage, attractiveness to pollinators, and a creeping, spreading habit.
Plant in full sun to a bit of shade, in well drained, loamy soil. Not drought tolerant, if heavily mulched it does well with weekly watering; sporadic watering (too much and then too little) may cause stress and increase the incidence of powdery mildew and leaf spot. It is in the mint family and will spread. Very effective at attracting pollinators to the garden.