Bee Balm

Monarda

Very attractive summer blooming perennial flowers. Most are hardy from zones 3 to 8 and thrive in full sun ( tolerates partial shade ) on just about any fertile, moist, well drained soil that is high in organic matter though tolerant of most soil. Plants should be cut back to 6 inches in height during late summer ( do not cut back further as remains of old stems will protect new shoots from trampling during early spring ). Many cultivars can eventually spread up to 6 feet due to they're rhizomatous habit. They can sometimes become invasive though are usually well behaved. They should however be divided every 2 or 3 years during early spring thus maintaining vigor plus increasing your stock of these amazing plants. Clumps that are not divided will often thin out in the middle after a few years. Monarda can also be grown from cuttings taken during early to mid summer.
Powdery mildew can become a serious fungal pest ruining the foliage and defoliating the plants in the summer, especially plants under lack of water stress. The best solution to powdery mildew is using the cultivars listed below that are resistant. Many of these resistant cultivars will remain luxuriantly foliaged all summer long and do not require any fungicide.
The Monarda's attract butterflies and hummingbirds and you can extend the bloom season by removing finished blooms. The flowers are often up to 4 inches across. The leaves have a minty fragrance.
Monarda's are generally not eaten by deer however there are edible to us humans. The young leaves can and sometimes are added to salads. Monarda contains a compound called carminative, which taken internally is a mild sedative.

* photos of unknown internet source



Monarda austroappalachiana ( Appalachian Bee Balm )
A perennial, reaching up to 2.5 x 2.2 ( rarely over 1.5 )feet, that is native to wooded slopes in the Ocoee River in Tennessee where it is critically endangered. It was originally found in 2015 by Aaron Floden who continues his valuable botanical research in that region of incredible botanical diversity.
The pointed, broadly-oval leaves are bright green with some reddish-purple veining.
The white flowers appear during late spring.
Hardy zones 5 to 7, the foliage is highly mildew resistant.

Monarda bradburiana ( Eastern Bee Balm )
A rare but very attractive, deciduous, clumping, upright perennial, reaching up to 2 x 4 feet, that is native from Iowa and south into Texas but mostly in the Ozarks.
The foliage is reddish at first, turning to luxuriant glossy blue-green to mid-green. The oblong leaves are up to 4 inches in length.
The light pink flowers, up to 3 inches wide, are borne at the stem tips during late spring ( earlier than most other Bee Balm ).
The flowers are very attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies.
The seed heads that persist long after the flowers are very attractive.
Hardy zones 4 to 8 in full sun on moist, well drained soil. It is very heat and humidity tolerant.
The menthol fragranced foliage is highly mildew resistant.

* photo taken on May 17 2017 in Howard Co., MD

* photos taken on May 22 2024 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on July 20 2024 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Sep 1 2024 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Oct 22 2024 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Nov 12 2024 in Columbia, MD

'Midnight Oil'
Vigorous growing, reaching up to 2 x 2 feet. This cultivar was introduced by Brent Horvath of Intrinsic Perennial Gardens.
The foliage is glossy deep purplish-red before turning to deep green. The foliage often turns back to red during autumn.
The light pink flowers appear late spring into early summer.
Hardy zones 4 to 8

* photo taken on Oct 23 2024 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Wash, DC

Monarda clinopodia ( White Bergamot )
A perennial, reaching up to 4 x 3.8 ( rarely over 3 ) feet in size, that is native to the eastern U.S. ( from central Illinois to far southern Michigan to western New York to southern Vermont; south to southeast Missouri to central Alabama to far northern Georgia to northern Delaware ). It is most often found in open woodland and floodplains in the Appalachian mountains and is not native to the Atlantic Coastal Plain south of Delaware.
The white flowers appear during mid-summer, lasting up to 3 weeks.
Hardy zones 5 to 7 in full sun ( may flop over if not enough sun ) on moist, well drained soil. It is tolerant of both sand or clay and is highly mildew resistant.

Monarda 'Dark Ponticum'
Compact and upright in habit, reaching up to 4 x 3 feet, with attractive, aromatic, deep green foliage and intense violet-purple flowers during mid summer. The stems are deep purple.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in full sun. Mildew resistant.

Monarda didyma ( Sweet Bergamot )
Also called Oswego Tea. A perennial reaching up to 4 or rarely 6.6 x 6 feet that is native to moist woods and bottomlands in eastern North America ( from Michigans Upper Peninsula to Sauble Beach, Ontario to Haliburton, Ontario to southeast Quebec to New Brunswick & Maine, south to central Tennessee & far northern Georgia to central South Carolina ). It is endangered in Michigan, South Carolina, Maryland and New Jersey. It is declining rapidly in southern Ontario and is no longer found in the wild in Bruce County and is only found sporadically across the southern Peninsula. In the Windsor/Essex County, Ontario region; it was abundant around Windsor during the 1800s.
The hairy, toothed, mint-like, ovate leaves are up to 6 x 3 inches and the stems are sharply angled. The foliage is deep green.
The scarlet-red flowers up to 2 inches across, are borne from June to August.
The flowers are very attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies and bees.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 ( even thriving in much of the northern Great Plains ) and is flood tolerant though does not grow in permanent swamps. Prefers full sun to partial shade.
Very heat and humidity tolerant though it is suggested that cultivars resistant to mildew are used. On ideal sites it can be very aggressive, spreading by rhizomes into large clumps.
Propagation is from basal cuttings or division while dormant.

* photo taken on July 25 2015 @ Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

* photos taken on June 20 2016 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on June 29 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on July 24 2021 in Columbia, MD

'Aquarius'
Reaches up to 4.5 feet with mildew resistant foliage. Light pink flowers are borne in June and July.

'Balmy Lilac'
Vigorous but compact in habit, reaching only up to 1.7 x 1.8 ( rarely over 1 x 1 ) feet.
The ovate leaves are up to 3 x 1.3 inches in size. The foliage is glossy, very deep green.
The abundant lilac-pink flowerheads, up to 1.8 inches wide, appear late spring into early summer.
Hardy zones 4 to 9. It is highly mildew resistant.

* photos taken on June 23 2018 in Elkridge, MD

* patent photo

'Balmy Pink'
Vigorous but compact in habit, reaching only up to 1.7 x 1.8 ( rarely over 1 x 1 ) feet.
The ovate leaves are up to 3 x 1.3 inches in size. The foliage is glossy, very deep green.
The abundant intense hot-pink flowerheads, up to 1.8 inches wide, appear late spring into early summer.
Hardy zones 4 to 9. It is highly mildew resistant.

* photo taken on May 20 2017 in Pikesville, MD

* photo taken on May 5 2018 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on June 4 2018 in Elkridge, MD

* photos taken on June 26 2018 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on June 24 2021 in Columbia, MD

'Balmy Purple'
Vigorous but compact in habit, reaching up to 1.7 x 1.8 ( rarely over 1 x 1 ) feet.
The ovate leaves are up to 3 x 1.3 inches in size. The foliage is glossy deep green.
The abundant bright purple flowerheads, up to 1.8 inches wide, appear late spring into early summer.
Hardy zones 4 to 9. It is highly mildew resistant.

* photo taken on May 20 2017 in Pikesville, MD

* photos taken on June 26 2018 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Aug 11 2018 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on June 24 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on July 10 2024 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

'Balmy Rose'
Vigorous but compact in habit, reaching up to 1.7 x 1.8 ( rarely over 1 x 1 ) feet.
The ovate leaves are up to 3 x 1.3 inches in size. The foliage is glossy deep green.
The abundant, deep pink flowerheads, up to 1.8 inches wide, appear late spring into early summer.
Hardy zones 4 to 9. It is highly mildew resistant.

* photo taken on May 29 2024 in Elkridge, MD

'Beauty of Cobham'
Reaches up to 50 inches in height, with purplish foliage and lilac-pink flowers.

* photos taken on Aug 2 2013 in Stratford, Ontario

'Blue Moon'
Compact and dense in habit, reaching up to 1.8 x 2 feet in 2 years, eventually to 2 x 2 feet.
The lance-shaped leaves are up to 3 x 1.5 inches in size. They are glossy mid-green above.
The abundant, lavender-blue flowers, up to 2 inches wide, appear during early to mid-summer, lasting up to 2.5 months.
Hardy zones 4 to 8, it has good mildew resistance..

* photo taken on Oct 6 2021 in Howard County, MD

* photo taken on June 14 2024 in Burtonsville, MD

'Blue Stocking'
Reaches up to 5 x 3.7 feet with abundant, intense light purple flowers all summer long.
The attractive blue-green foliage is moderately mildew resistant.

* photo taken on Jul 18 2017 @ Dominion Arboretum, Ottawa, ON

* photo taken by Milan Havlis, owner of central Europe's premier plant nursery

'Bryan Thompson'
Reaches up to 4 x 4 feet, with pure white flowers, up to 2 inches wide.
The bright green foliage is mildew resistant.

'Buddlegum Blast'
Vigorous and compact in habit, reaching up to 2 x 2.8 feet in 2 years, eventually up to 3 feet wide.
The toothed, lance-shaped leaves, average 2.8 x 1.3 inches in size. The foliage is semi-glossy, very deep green.
The very abundant,intense hot pink flowerheads, up to 2.8 inches wide, appear during early to mid-summer.
Hardy zones 4 to 8, it has exellent mildew resistance.

* patent photo

'Cambridge Scarlet'
Reaches up to 5 feet in height and clumps spread up to 1 foot a year in each direction.
The abundant, large, scarlet red flowers, up to 3.5 inches wide, are borne all summer long.
Very mildew resistant.

* photo taken on July 13 2012 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on July 9 2013 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on July 1 2014 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on June 9 2024 in Columbia, MD

'Cherry Pops'
Vigorous, compact, sturdy and upright in habit, reaching up to 1.8 x 3 feet in 2 years, eventually slightly wider.
The toothed, lance-shaped leaves, average 2.8 x 1.3 inches in size. The foliage is semi-glossy, deep green. The foliage contrasts with deep purplish-red stems
The intense cherry-pink flowerheads, up to 2.5 inches wide, appear during mid-summer.
Hardy zones 4 to 8, it has exellent mildew resistance.

* photo taken on June 14 2024 in Burtonsville, MD

* patent photo

'Colrain Red'
Reaches up to 4 x 4 + ( in first year ) feet withabundant, striking deep red flowers, up to 3.5 inches wide, borne early to mid summer. It can eventually clump as wide as 4.5 feet or more. The foliage is moderately mildew resistant.

'Coral Reef'
Very vigorous, reaching up to 4 x 4 feet with very large, bright salmon-pink flowers, up to 3 inches wide, during mid-summer. The deep green foliage is mildew resistant.

* photo taken on July 10 2013 in Howard Co., MD

'Cranberry Lace'
Compact in habit, reaching up to 16 x 33 inches in size, bearing very abundant, deep reddish-purple flowers, up to 2.5 inches wide, during mid-summer.
It is moderately mildew resistant.

* photos taken on July 9 2023 @ Scenic Caves, Collingwood, ON

'Croftway Pink'
Reaches up to 4 feet with intense hot pink flowers all summer long.

'Fireball'
Compact but spreading in habit, reaching a maximum size of 4 x 3 ( rarely over 2 ) feet in size.
The mildew resistant foliage is luxuriant mid-green.
The red-purple flowers, up to 3 inches wide, are borne over a long season.

* photo taken on June 15 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on June 29 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on June 23 2020 in Columbia, MD

'Gardenview Scarlet'
Reaches up to 5 feet in height and clumps spread rapidly up to 6 feet in width.
The foliage is mildew resistant.
The intense rose-red flowers, up to 3.5 inches wide, are borne all summer long.

'Grand Marshall'
Compact and dense, reaching up to 3 x 3+ ( rarely over 2 ) feet in height.
The foliage is very mildew resistant.
The abundant flowers are intense fuchsia-pink, borne mid to late summer.
Hardy zones 3 to 8; it originated from the harsh climate of the province of Manitoba in Canada.

'Grand Parade'
A compact, miniature form, reaching a maximum size of 1.7 x 3.2 feet. It is great for containers as well as attracting butterflies to the smaller garden.
The luxuriant mid-green foliage is very mildew resistant.
The very abundant, purplish-pink flowers, up to 2.5 inches wide, are borne mid-summer into early autumn. A single plant may bear up to 100 flowers at a time.

* photo taken on June 10 2013 in Howard Co., MD

'Jacob Cline'
Grows vigorously, even reaching as much as 6 x 6 ( rarely over 4 ) feet. It's minty fragranced foliage is luxuriant, deep green and totally free of mildew and it bears huge, deep red, globe shaped flowers up to 4 inches across in mid summer. It looks awesome with the larger growing Shasta Daisies.
Prefers to be divided while dormant every 3 years.

* photo of unknown internet source

* photos taken on July 1 2014 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on July 3 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Jul 18 2017 @ Dominion Arboretum, Ottawa, ON

* photos taken on June 29 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on June 14 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on June 21 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on June 23 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on July 9 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on July 22 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on June 30 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on June 24 2022 in Columbia, MD

'Judith's Fancy Fuchsia'
Reaches up to 3.7 x 4.2 feet, with abundant, intense purplish-red flowers.
Highly mildew resistant.

'Mahogany'
Reaches up to 4 x 5 feet with deep green foliage and wine red flowers, up to 2.5 inches wide.
The foliage is highly mildew resistant.

'Marshall's Delight'
Reaches up to 4 x 4 feet with strong stems and moderately mildew resistant, bright green foliage.
It blooms abundantly with round, ball shaped, hot pink flowers, up to 2.5 inches wide, over a very long season.
A hybrid between 'Cambridge Scarlet' & Monarda fistulosa, that was developed in Morden, Manitoba.

* photo taken on Aug 2 2013 in Stratford, Ontario

* photos taken on June 21 2016 in Columbia, MD

'Pardon My Cerise'
Compact in habit, reaching up to 1.5 x 3 foot in 2 years, with abundant scarlet-red flowers during mid-summer, lasting up to 2.5 months.
The glossy deep foliage has good mildew resistance. The leaves are up to 2.5 x 1.6 inches in size.
Hardy zones 4 to 8, possibly colder.

* patent photo

'Pardon My Lavender'
Compact in habit, reaching up to 1.5 x 3 foot in 2 years, with abundant lavender flowers during mid-summer, lasting up to 2.5 months.
The glossy deep foliage has good mildew resistance. The leaves are up to 2.5 x 1.6 inches in size.
Hardy zones 4 to 8, possibly colder.

* patent photo

'Pardon My Pink'
Compact in habit, reaching up to 1.5 x 2.3 foot, with abundant pink flowers during mid-summer.
The foliage has good mildew resistance.

* photos taken on July 2 2019 @ Patuxent Wildlife Refuge, Laurel, MD

* patent photo

'Pardon My Purple'
Compact in habit, reaching up to 1.5 x 3 foot in 2 years, with abundant intense reddish-purple flowers during mid-summer, lasting up to 2.5 months.
The glossy deep foliage has good mildew resistance. The leaves are up to 2.5 x 1.6 inches in size.
Hardy zones 4 to 8, possibly colder.

* photo taken on July 1 2014 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on June 24 2022 in Columbia, MD

'Petite Delight'
A dense, compact, clump forming cultivar, reaching up to 2.5 x 2 feet. It's highly mildew resistant foliage is crinkly and glossy deep green.
The fragrant, lavender-pink flowers, up to 2.5 inches wide, are borne in July and August.

* photo taken on June 24 2011 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on June 4 2012 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 31 2015 in Columbia, MD

'Petite Wonder'
A dense, compact, clump forming cultivar, reaching up to 2 x 2 feet. It's highly mildew resistant foliage is crinkly and glossy deep green.
The clear pink flowers up to 2.5 inches wide are borne in mid summer.

'Pink Frosting'
Vigorous, very dense and compact in habit, reaching up to 1.5 x 2 feet in 2 years, eventually slightly wider.
The toothed, lance-shaped leaves, are up to 3.1 x 1.3 inches in size. The foliage is semi-glossy, deep green. The foliage contrasts with deep purplish-red stems
The pastel-pink flowerheads, up to 2.5 inches wide, appear during mid-summer.
Hardy zones 4 to 8, it has exellent mildew resistance.

* patent photo

'Pink Lace'
Compact in habit, reaching a maximum size of 2.2 x 3.2 feet, with deep red stems bearing bright green foliage.
The very abundant bright pink ( with a deep purple cone ) flowers, up to 2 inches wide, are borne mid-summer into early autumn.
It is moderately mildew resistant.

'Prairie Night'
Reaches up to 4 feet with deep purplish-lilac flowers.

'Raspberry Wine'
Very vigorous, reaching up to 6 x 7 ( rarely over 4 ) feet with very mildew resistant, attractive foliage. Plants may reach as much as 4 feet in height during the second year.
It bears intense, wine-red colored flowers, up to 3 inches wide, during mid summer, repeating early to mid autumn if deadheaded.

* photos taken on July 17 2010 @ Morris Arboretum, Philly, PA

* photo taken on August 2 2010 in Bayfield, Ontario

* photo taken on Aug 2 2013 in Stratford, Ontario

* photos taken on Aug 15 2014 at Maryland Zoo, Baltimore, MD

* photo taken on Apr 27 2018 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on July 3 2018 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 11 2018 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on June 29 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on July 4 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on July 13 2021 @ Hershey Gardens, Hershey PA

* photo taken on June 24 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on July 19 2022 in Columbia, MD

'Scorpion'
Reaches up to 4.7 ( rarely over 4 ) feet with purplish-pink to red flowers, up to 2.5 inches wide, during early summer, often repeating during early autumn if deadheaded. The red-tinted foliage is moderately mildew resistant.

* photo taken on Aug 2 2013 in Stratford, Ontario

'Snow White'
Reaches up to 4.5 x 4 feet with very showy, pure white flowers borne early to mid summer.
Moderately resistant to mildew.

'Squaw'
Similar to 'Cambridge Scarlet' but somewhat less mildew prone.

'Twins'
Reaches up to 4 feet with mildew resistant foliage and deep pink flowers in June and July.

'Vintage Wine'
Reaches up to 27 inches in height, with deep purplish-red flowers.

* photos taken on July 27 2019 in Columbia, MD

Monarda fistulosa ( Wild Bergamot )
A fast growing, rhizomatous, clumping perennial reaching up to 4 or rarely 6 x 5 feet that is native to dry open woods of much of North America ( from Mackenzie, British Columbia to Dawson Creek, B.C. to Edmonton, Alberta to Winnipeg, Manitoba to Kenora, Ontario to Sault Ste Marie to Tobermory, Ontario to Haliburton, Ontario to southern Quebec & Maine; south to northwest Nevada to New Mexico to east Texas to northern Georgia to North Carolina ). In the Windsor/Essex County, Ontario region; it was uncommon at Point Pelee, the Lake Erie islands, the Ohio shore as well as at Detroit during the 1800s.
The aromatic, toothed, elliptical leaves, to 7 inches in length, are glossy gray-green. The foliage often turns to orangish-yellow during autumn.
The light pink flowers, up to 2.3 inches across, are borne from June to September. Attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and bees.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 ( even thriving in much of the northern Great Plains ) in full sun to partial shade. It is more resistant to mildew than Monarda didyma.

* photo taken on July 3 2011 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on June 10 2013 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Aug 2 2013 in Stratford, Ontario

* photos taken on July 1 2014 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on July 17 2018 @ Leacock Museum in Orillia, ON

* photos taken on June 29 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on July 2 2019 @ Patuxent Wildlife Refuge, Laurel, MD

* photos taken on July 13 2021 @ Hershey Gardens, Hershey PA

* photos taken on July 24 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on July 10 2022 @ Falls Reserve, Goderich, ON

* photo taken on June 25 2024 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on July 10 2024 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

'Claire Grace'
Vigorous, reaching up to 6 x 5 feet with very mildew resistant foliage and soft lavender flowers up to 3 inches wide.
Thrives in both the north and the Deep South.

* photos taken on July 17 2010 @ Morris Arboretum, Philly, PA






* photos taken on July 20 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on July 22 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on July 27 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on June 30 2021 in Columbia, MD

'Kardinal'
Reaches up to 3 feet with red flowers.

'Violet Queen'
Vigorous growing, reaching up to 4.5 x 6 feet with showy, deep purple blue flowers all summer long.
Foliage is mildew resistant.

'Wichita Mountains Form'
A very heat ( and moderately drought ) tolerant form, reaching up to 3 feet in height, that originated from the Wichita Mountains and is marketed by High Country Gardens. The attractive, aromatic foliage is glossy green and the flowers are lavender-pink.
Hardy zones 4 to 8

Monarda 'Peter's Purple'
A vigorous, sturdy, clumping perennial, reaching up to 5 x 2 feet, that is the hybrid between Monarda bartlettii & M. fistulosa 'Claire Grace'. It is not invasive.
The luxuriant deep green foliage is entirely mildew resistant.
The showy, lavender-purple flowers are borne over a 2 month period from early to mid summer.
Hardy zones 6 to 10 in full sun to partial shade. It is very heat/humid and drought tolerant for a Bee Balm.

Monarda punctata ( Spotted Bee-Balm )
A moderate growing, biennial or perennial with a semi-woody base, reaching up to 4 x 4.2 ( rarely over 3 ) feet that is native to dry or sandy acid woods in eastern U.S. ( from Minnesota to Michigan's Upper Peninsula to southeast Quebec & Vermont; south to Arizona to Texas to northern Florida ). It is extinct in Kentucky; endangered in Tennessee, Missouri, Ohio, Ontario and Pennsylvania.
It has toothed, lance-shaped to narrow-oblong leaves are up to 4 inches in length. The mid-green foliage often turns to orangish-red during autumn.
The very abundant, pink flowers, up to 1 x 2 inches in size, are borne mid-summer to early autumn.
Hardy zones 3 to 9 in full sun on sandy, well drained soil. Moderately salt tolerant and highly mildew resistant.

* photo taken on Aug 4 2011 in Howard Co, MD

* photos taken Aug 2016 @ Patuxent Research Refuge, Laurel, MD

* photos taken on Sep 16 2016 @ Patuxent Research Refuge, Laurel, MD

* photos taken on Aug 5 2017 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photos taken on Nov 10 2020 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photos taken on Aug 1 2022 in Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photo taken on June 25 2024 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 24 2024 @ Howard County Conservancy, Woodstock, MD

* ADDITIONAL CULTIVARS
https://www.jamesgreenhouses.com/plants/34107/ ( Beemine Lavender )
https://www.jamesgreenhouses.com/plants/34102/ ( Beemine Pink )
https://www.jamesgreenhouses.com/plants/34097/ ( Beemine Red )