Melinda Myers

Bee Balm

Botanical Name

Monarda spp.

Hardiness

Zones 4 to 9

Height

2 to 4 feet

Width

3 feet

Flowers

Summer: scarlet red, pink, white, wine red, purple, violet

Light

Full sun

Soil

Moist, well-drained

Planting & Care

• Divide every 3 years to prevent spread of this aggressive perennial
• Provide generous spacing and air circulation to help prevent powdery mildew and rust
• Do not allow soil to dry out

Problems

Powdery mildew, rust

Varieties

• Monarda didyma 'Gardenview Scarlet' - 4', bright scarlet flowers, fairly good mildew resistance
• Colrain Red - deep purplish red flowers, good mildew resistance
• Marshall's Delight - purplish pink blooms, good mildew resistance
• Raspberry Wine - purplish-red flowers, good mildew resistance
• Monarda bradburiana - compact native, pale pink flowers spotted with purple, 12-24" tall
• Monarda fistulosa - wild bergamot, native found in drier soils of prairies, rocky woods, roadsides and undisturbed fields; lavender flowers atop 2-4' plants
• Leading Lady Series - hybrid bee balms that are very compact and earlier blooming than M. didyma cultivars, flowers of bright pink, lavender, purple-pink, raspberry-purple