![]() ![]() Who does resist the attractions of bee balm? Deer. All bee balms sport the tufts of tubular flowers that mark them as members of the mint family, Lamiaceae, whose nectar is irresistible to our flying friends. citriodora smells similar, with a spicy finish. punctata looks dramatically different, with petite flowers but very showy, whorled pink leaf bracts. Most bee balm plants at nurseries are either Monarda didyma (scarlet bee balm), Monarda fistulosa, or a hybrid of the two. There are many more hybrids and named cultivars. Above: Plant red-flowered bee balms to attract hummingbirds.īee balm belongs to the genus Monarda, which comprises almost two dozen species. Certainly, the plant was used as food, a medicinal tea, and a topical application by Native Americans. Bee balm is also known as Oswego tea, although that etymology is murky (Oswego is a place, but not a Native nation). It is unrelated to the other bergamot, the fragrant fruit of Citrus bergamia, which perfumes Earl Grey tea (although both contain limonene in their essential oil). Bee balm is also known as wild bergamot, or bergamot. Above: Bee balm begins to flower in midsummer. Ready to explore? Read on for growing tips and recipes for this North American herb. Growing bee balm is good not only for your biodiversity karma, but for your culinary adventures. ![]() It was used on this continent by Native American nations long before Mediterranean herbs crossed the Atlantic to please European palates. With an exception (more about that later), bee balm tastes like a melding of oregano and summer savory, and can be used in exactly the same ways. Native American bee balm is well-known as a pollinator-pleasing perennial, but it offers even more: Its aromatic leaves and flowers are edible. Icon - Check Mark A check mark for checkbox buttons.Īs the dainty fireworks of bee balm flowers begin to erupt in summer, a time-lapse camera would reveal a growing and interactive crowd in motion. Icon - Twitter Twitters brand mark for use in social sharing icons. Icon - Pinterest Pinterests brand mark for use in social sharing icons. flipboard Icon - Instagram Instagrams brand mark for use in social sharing icons. Icon - Facebook Facebooks brand mark for use in social sharing icons. Icon - Email Used to indicate an emai action. Icon - Search Used to indicate a search action. Icon - Zoom In Used to indicate a zoom in action on a map. Icon - Zoom Out Used to indicate a zoom out action on a map. Icon - Location Pin Used to showcase a location on a map. Icon - Dropdown Arrow Used to indicate a dropdown. Icon - Close Used to indicate a close action. Icon - Down Chevron Used to indicate a dropdown. Icon - Message The icon we use to represent an email action. Icon - External Link An icon we use to indicate a button link is external. ![]() Icon - Arrow Right An icon we use to indicate a leftwards action. And should you get stung by a bee while you're working in your garden, you can crush up the leaves and hold it on your boo-boo for au naturale relief.Native Bee Balm: Pollinator-Friendly and Delicious, Too - Gardenista Icon - Arrow Left An icon we use to indicate a rightwards action. It's lovely to behold with an enticing scent. Supporting the beneficial and pollinators improves the overall health of the whole garden resulting in less pest infestations and need for chemical intervention."īee balm: It keeps your homestead pollinators happy and abuzz in superabundance. ![]() A perennial grown in full sun with well-drained soil, it is irresistible to many different species of bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and beneficial insects. "All have large, unusual looking flowers that can range from pinks to purples to white. "Stalwart varieties, such as 'Jacob Cline', as well as newer selections, like "Bee-Happy' that are more powdery mildew resistant are all on the market," says Bennett. Because it is a prodigious spreader, some gardeners prefer to plant bee balm in pots. The foliage tends to get brown and scraggly, so you might want to plant it in the back of your garden where the foliage won't show and the flowers can burst forth in all their glory and add radiant pops of color as a backdrop to your summer garden. The main problem with Monarda is powdery mildew, especially in areas with high humidity. It grows from 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 meters) tall and prefers well-drained soil, but will tolerate heavy clay and bog-like situations as well. It has the mint family's trademark square stems and opposite leaves, and blooms best in full sun but is amenable to partial shade. Bee balm blooms between June and September depending on the area of the country and is a hardy perennial from USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 4-9. ![]()
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