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When to Plant Bee Balm?

Bee balm is a herb long used for medicinal purposes by American Indians and pioneers. It grows naturally in the eastern half of the U.S. from Canada to Mexico. It is often called "Oswego tea" because it was introduced as a medicinal herb to early settlers by the Oswego Indians. Bee balm is now widely grown as a carefree landscape plant attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds.

  1. Description

    • There are several varieties of bee balm, also called monarda or bergamot, of which Monarda fistulosa is the most commonly found in the nursery trade. The leaves are fuzzy and oval shaped with a distinct point and serrated edges. It grows to 4 feet tall under optimal conditions, but is commonly seen growing 2 to 3 feet high. The stems are stiff and square like other plants in the mint family. The flowers have ragged tubular petals that grow from a cone borne atop a bare stem. The flowers may be pink, white, red, orange, lavender or yellow depending on the species.

    Planting Location

    • Plant bee balm in very well-drained soil in spring when the healthiest plants are available at your local nursery. The planting location should have exposure to at least four hours of direct sun each day. Morning sun exposure is always best. Bee balm spreads by seed as well as underground rhizomes and has a clumping growth habit. It is not particularly aggressive, but it should have room to spread. Plant bee balm where the hummingbirds and butterflies visiting the plant can be seen.

    Plant Care

    • Bee balm tolerates a wide range of soil conditions. It wilts in drought conditions, so a deep soaking every 10 to 14 days during the summer keeps the plant attractive. Bee balm freezes to the ground in winter, so trim off dead stems and foliage and clean up fallen leaves to avoid mildew disease from spreading to the plants from the old leaves. Fertilize with a balanced garden fertilizer used as directed on the container label in early spring. A balanced garden fertilizer has the same numbers in the fertilizer ratio description, such as 10-10-10 or 8-8-8.

    Propagation

    • Bee balm can be grown from seed and the cuttings can be rooted in damp soil, but the easiest way to propagate bee balm is by division of the clumps. Divide the clumps every three to four years when the middle of the existing clumps begin to decline. Dig up the clumps in late winter or early spring and divide with a sharp knife or shovel. Plant the new plants in a new location at the same level they were planted in the previous location.

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Growing Herbs
  1. When to Plant Parsley Plants
  2. When to Plant Garlic?
  3. When to Transplant a ZZ Plant
  4. When to Plant Jicama
  5. When to Plant Vinca
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  9. When to Plant Chamomile Seeds?
  10. How to Get Rid of Bee Balm
  11. What Is Bee Balm?
  12. Information on the Bee Balm Plant

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