
Flowering bee balm (Monarda) in the garden
How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Bee Balm
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I cut back my bee balm last fall and it not growing. Its already June and it has not grown at all
After doing a ton of research and experimentation, I believe I have a good handle on bee balm.
Someone asked about red bee balm, why it's purple and not red. Red is Monarda Didymus, a cultivar aka Scarlet Bee Balm. They're in the mint family, so they're very forgiving. I restrict mine to large pots as they're aggressively invasive. I'm putting a few in the ground this fall enclosed by pots with the bottoms cut out.
I always water from the bottom to avoid powdery mildew.
My bee balms are always busy with hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. I keep a few next to my tomatoes, with other squirrel repellent plants, I haven't lost a tomatoe this year.
I grow mine from seed, I have 20 I'm about to plant. I have a shade garden and a sun garden, all focused on hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees - pollinators. My wife thinks I'm crazy, but she is always watching our bee balms with delight!
Last fall I planted Scarlet Bee Balm in a patch of invasive lemon balm - I'm hoping it out-competes the mint so that I at least get blooms. I've tried without success to eradicate the mint. Hopefully the Scarlet Bee Balm takes over the area.
I have a beautiful 4 ft tall red Bee Balm. Yesterday we had a severe storm with high winds that beat down the branches. Should I tie them back up, or will they stand back up on their own.
I have a beautiful 4 ft tall red Bee Balm. Yesterday we had a severe storm with high winds that beat down the branches. Should I tie them back up, or will they stand back up on their own.
Some cultivars to grow a few feet tall and require some support; we use large, round, wire plant supports. In the future, it’s best to add the supports in the spring when the plants were just coming up; then, they grow up through these supports.
I planted Red bee balm a couple years ago, this year it is Purple. Can you tell me why it is not Red.
If the petals are purple, it’s probably reverting to its wild form. Hybrids are unpredictable, and will sometimes show traits from their genetic heritage. Enjoy whatever color shows up!
I have to say that bee balm in ultra violet is simply gorgeous. I am planting the red bee balm
for the first time. I am sure I will love it. Have lots of bees where I live in florida.
You mention that Bee Balm seedheads provide food for birds in the fall and winter, yet you say that we are to cut it back to 2 inches after first frost. Why cut it back? Why not leave it for the birds to eat the seeds? Just wondering. Thanks
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