Bee Balm: Classic and colorful

In the plant world, our favorites often evolve and change over time. This can be due to new plants that are introduced into the nursery trade that have showier characteristics or better pest resistance than the old favorite they are replacing. It can be due to property size and available space in the average landscape decreasing over time, changing how we choose to allot our space to plants. It may simply happen due to our own changing tastes. Gardeners may use terms like ‘old-fashioned’ to describe plants that were once very popular and are now relatively rare, while those that have stood the test of time without decreasing in popularity might instead be called ‘classics.’ 

Bee balm probably falls somewhere in the middle of these two somewhat arbitrary designations. It’s certainly not quite as popular as it once was in the average home landscape, due in part to its aggressive spreading habit (it is a member of the mint family, after all) and in part due to the relatively common occurrence of powdery mildew on many varieties. That said, bee balm is still quite common in public gardens and larger landscapes, due to its reliable summer color display. In fact, with the increased popularity of pollinator gardens, butterfly gardens, native gardens, and edible landscaping, it is quite easy to find ways to make bee balm fit into a variety of landscape situations.

Top: Monarda didyma, the most common form of bee balm. Photo: SwamprOse, CC BY-ND 2.0  Second from top: 'Jacob Cline' bee balm, in summer. Photo: S. Strine, CC BY 2.0

Top: A large clump of bee balm in late spring. E. Munday, CC BY-NC 4.0  Second from top:  Monarda 'Petite Delight'

The most common form of bee balm is Monarda didyma, a herbaceous perennial that grows 2-4 feet tall and at least that wide. Flowers can range from dark red to light pink or lavender, the shape of which somewhat resembles a spider, having a central round flower head surrounded by slender colorful bracts pointing outward like legs. Flowers can last from early July into September. While this species is prone to powdery mildew as I mentioned, many varieties such as ‘Jacob Cline’ and ‘Petite Delight’ have strong resistance to this problem. Periodic thinning out of large plantings will increase air flow, which also helps limit powdery mildew.

Bee balm is a great fit for pollinator plantings because it has a long bloom period and attracts a variety of important pollinating species. These include honey bees, bumble bees, a number of lesser-known native bee species, ruby-throated hummingbirds, swallowtail butterflies, and sphinx moths. The flowers are edible, and have been used to flavor teas, jellies, soups, stews, and in salads.
 
Matthew Stevens is the County Extension Director and Horticulture Agent for North Carolina Cooperative Extension’s Pitt County Center. If you have questions about this article or gardening in general, please contact the Pitt County Extension Master Gardener Infoline at 252-902-1705.