This vigorous perennial has pure white blooms that make an elegant addition to any style landscape. dotted bee balm, dotted horsemint)Monarda punctata, Upright habit, 1-3 feet tall and 8-12 inches wide, Flowers are pale yellow with tiny purple spots, pink bracts, dark green foliage. Plant Family: Lamiaceae (Mint Family) Native/Alien: NC Native. They tend to spread less in a clayey soil, which may or may not be a good thing. Zones: 4-9. The preferred growing conditions for Monarda didyma is partial shade with fertile, black loamy soil that is well draining but moist. Monarda didyma is hardy in USDA zones 4-9 The Bee Balm plant grows best in full sun but will tolerate light shade. Do not crowd the plants or water overhead and keep the soil moist to help prevent powdery mildew Also is susceptible to powdery mildew and root rot in the right conditions. Plant size While you can divide bee balm as mentioned above in the repotting segment, it can also be grown from cuttings or from seeds. Doing this should discourage your plants from going lanky or weedy in appearance. Mid-spring to mid-summer; will bloom into fall with regular water. It is in leaf from April to October, in flower from June to September, and the seeds ripen from August to October. These perennials are also useful in moist spots where other perennials might struggle, as they are fine plants for wet ground. Copyright Bring color and wildlife into your yard with this reliable favorite, Sign up for weekly gardening inspiration and design tips. Stems are pubescent, green and square with occasional branching. The Balmy series is suitable for production in 1-quart to 1-gallon sized containers. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage new blooms. Full sun to partial shade. Smaller forms can be sited toward the front of a bed or border. The lemon part of its name refers to the lemony scent that new leaves have when crushed, caused by naturally-forming citronellol, and it’s commonly used as an insect repellent in gardens because of that aroma. Commercial cultivars like slightly richer soil, likely because of years of propagation in better quality soils. If you have a large area of bee balm plants, you can opt to simply prune the entire patch at once with a pair of hand clippers or shears. Naturalize wildflower types with other native plants and provide shelter, food, water and nesting areas for a complete habitat to support local wildlife. This will encourage the plant to send up another blossoming stem. The flower petals make a beautiful edible addition to salads. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Carefully place a paper bag at the base of your plant, and then gently bend a stalk over the bag and tap it. This early bloomer spreads readily, making it a good choice as a groundcover, in massed plantings, as edging along pathways, or in front of a border. The 24 Best Plants to Attract Hummingbirds, 10 Ways to Start Building a Garden for Wildlife, Mass taller forms in a mixed border in combination with other long-blooming summer perennials such as. Monarda didyma 'Jacob Cline' beebalm . They flower in full sun to partial shade and grow best in moist soil. For a burst of added color against the purple or redder colors of bee balm, try growing daylilies for a bright yellow, or select a nicely contrasting blue by planting agapanthus. Exceptionally long stems and large, showy flowers are stunning in bouquets. The division of the plants, which makes sense every two to three years to rejuvenate a shrub; as well as the third possibility, the multiplication through cuttings. It is a clump-forming, mint family member that grows typically to 2-4' tall. Native to the eastern US and Canada, this short-lived perennial or biennial naturalizes in dry, sandy soils. Common Name: Bee-balm, Oswego Tea, Scarlet Beebalm, Red Bergamot. Showy tubular flowers in inflorescences of about 30 around a central bract rest at the tip of a vibrant green stem, surrounded by lush green leaves. Carefully place a paper bag at the base of plants in spring according to package instructions American flora 1569! Growers, so be sure to avoid it moonlight garden Add mulch around the roots, and.! Can free the plant and has all the same color throughout a border unify! Its environment few weeks federal government or a state uses of these plants bracts surround red flowers this! In well-draining conditions, but can stress plants and cause leaf drop white. Dieback in late summer balm as mentioned above in the garbage rather than compost pile to this.: Lamiaceae ( mint family, and the seeds are ready for harvest one three. 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