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How to Grow Bee Balm: The Complete Bee Balm Flower Guide

Flowering bee balm (Monarda) in the garden

Photo Credit
Tatyana Mut/Shutterstock
Botanical Name
Monarda spp.
Plant Type
Flower
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Soil pH
Neutral
Slightly Acidic to Neutral
Bloom Time
Summer
Flower Color
Pink
Purple
Red
White
Hardiness Zone
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Special Features
Attracts Butterflies
Attracts Songbirds

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Planting, Growing, and Caring for Bee Balm Flowers

Catherine Boeckmann
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Bee balm is a native perennial that flowers in summertime. This plant is beloved by hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies! Learn how to plant and grow bee balm flowers—a great addition to a pollinator garden.

About Bee Balm

Bee balm (Monarda spp.), also called wild bergamot, is known for its attractive scarlet flowers that bloom in the summertime and its fragrant foliage. In June and July, slender, tubular flowers are produced in 2—to 3-inch-wide flower heads. Flower colors include white, pink, red, lavender, and purple.

In the garden, its most frequent visitors are hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies because they have the long tongues required to reach the tubular flowers’ nectar. Bumblebees and a few other insects are too big to get into some of the smaller tubular flowers of some bee balms, so the insects practice something called “nectar robbing.” The insects punch a tiny hole at the base of the flower to access the nectar, bypassing the flower’s pollen and “robbing” it of its nectar. Find more flowers that are great for bees.

The seed heads also attract birds in the fall and winter. Learn more about plants that attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

bee balm flower with a pollinator

Given its height (2-4 feet), bee balm makes for an excellent background plant in a flower bed. Consider it as part of a pollinator garden!

Check out this video to learn more about the benefits of growing bee balm:

Read Next

Planting

Bee balm performs best in full sun (at least 6 hours). It will grow in partial shade but won’t flower as well and is more susceptible to powdery mildew. Provide moist, well-draining soil with a neutral pH. Amend soil with compost or aged manure, if necessary.

When to Plant Bee Balm

  • Bee balm can be planted in the spring or in the fall.
  • Spring is the best time to divide existing plants and transplant them.

How to Plant Bee Balm

  • Give careful thought to placement. Without good air circulation, the leaves can develop powdery mildew, a fungal disease. (Reduce watering if this appears.) Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart. 
  • Water thoroughly at the time of planting.

Growing

  • Keep soil evenly moist throughout the growing season, watering every 7 to 10 days during dry periods. Soak to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. Add mulch to preserve moisture and control weeds.
  • Avoid fertilizer in general; apply only a sprinkling of a balanced product in spring, if desired. An excess can promote rampant leaf growth and powdery mildew. 
  • Deadhead faded blooms to encourage the plant to re-bloom in late summer. Deadheading the main stem allows the side shoots to develop and bloom. These, too, can be cut when flowers reach the size you want.
  • After the first frost in the fall, leave seed heads for the birds or cut stems back to about 2 inches above the soil. (See local frost dates.)
  • Divide every 2 to 3 years to ensure its vigor. (Clumps tend to die out from the center.)

Types

  • Monarda didyma is bright red and grows 3 to 4 feet tall.
  • M. didyma varieties that are resistant to powdery mildew include ‘Marshall’s Delight’ (bright pink), ‘Jacob Cline’ (deep red), and ‘Raspberry Wine’ (dark red). 
  • M. fistulosa produces lavender-pink blooms in late summer; tolerant of dry soils; commonly called “wild bergamot.”
  • M. pringlei grows 18 inches tall and is immune to powdery mildew. ‘Petite Wonder’ and ‘Petite Delight’ are pink varieties.

pink bee balm flowers

Harvesting

Bee balm is a lovely cut flower. The leaves are aromatic, which adds interest to an indoor arrangement. Cut the main stem flower just as it begins to open up. The plant’s side shoots will continue to develop and bloom. The side shoots can be cut for indoor enjoyment, too. Its vase life is seven days.

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Wit and Wisdom

  • The common name of bee balm is in reference to its former use to treat bee stings! 
  • Native Americans and early colonists used bee balm leaves and flowers to make a variety of medicinal salves and drinks.
  • The Native American word for a river in New York became part of the name of a bee balm drink: Oswego tea.
  • Bee balm is a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae). Its foliage has a strong aroma and is sometimes used in herbal teas, salads, and as garnishes. The flowers are also edible.
  • Although called “wild bergamot,” bee balm is not used in “bergamot” (Earl Grey) tea, which is made with oils extracted from the rind of the bergamot orange, a citrus fruit.

Pests/Diseases

Diseases: southern blight, fungal leaf spot, powdery mildew, rust
Pests: aphids, spider mites, stalk borers, thrips

Flowers
About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening so it’s not surprising that she and The Old Farmer’s Almanac found each other. She leads digital content for the Almanac website, and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana. Read More from Catherine Boeckmann
 

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Comments

Dennis and Dan… (not verified)

3 months 2 weeks ago

My bee balm is so leggy! The stems are about 3 feet long before any leaves or flowers.

ANN HODGES (not verified)

4 months 4 weeks ago

WILL THE BBEN BLAMS COME UP EVERY YEAR? WHAT IF YOU BRING IN THE POTTED PLANT IN THE WINTER. WILL IT SURRIVE? LOVE THIS
PANTS. IT'S SUCH A HOT SPOT IN THE GARDEN

Bee balm is a perennial plant.It will come back year after year

Patricia Hunger (not verified)

5 months ago

Thanks for the great info I live in Allegheny forest and I've been looking for that flower it's a beautiful plant

nassim rad (not verified)

5 months 1 week ago

Excellent, thank you for your efforts.

Linda Horton (not verified)

6 months 3 weeks ago

I just bought a gallon size of bee balm. Is it best to just put the clump of it right into the ground or should I take it apart and plant individual plants. It is only abour 3 inches high so far.

Hi Linda, you could plant it either way. However, I would personally recommend breaking it into a few smaller chunks so that the plants do not crowd each other as they grow.

olinda (not verified)

7 months 1 week ago

This looks nothing like what I have known as bee balm in Texas all my life. Bee Balm to me is a wildflower which is purple and shaped differently for what is picture. It is either an annual or dies down and come back the next year...not sure which. I would like to know if there is any relationship between what you show and what I'm familiar with. I would appreciate a response.

Mary Colwell (not verified)

7 months 1 week ago

The wild bee balm (M fistulosa) is a favorite flower for the federally endangered rusty-patched bumble bee.

Patty (not verified)

1 year 2 months ago

bee balm gets mildew no matter what you do. I have a few plants that get tall and they are very pretty but oh the mildew.