BEE BALMLamiaceae Monarda
"Petite Wonder"
Category: Perennial
Height: 6-12 inches (15-30 cm)
Spacing: 15-18 inches (38-45 cm)
Bloom Color: Pink, red, lilac, and white
Foliage: Herbaceous
Hardiness: USDA Zone 3-9
Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Foliage: Herbaceous
Soil: Well-drained, moist soil
Disease: Generally resistant to disease, however, it can be susceptible to powdery mildew and rust
Propagation: Hardwood and softwood cuttings, root cuttings, and division
Bee Balm, also known as Horsemint, Oswego Tea, or Bergamot, is a wonderful addition to a mid- to late summer garden. Butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and other nectar-loving species are attracted to this plant. Some varieties can grow as tall as 4 feet. The variety showcased here is the Petite Wonder. The plant can be invasive in the southeastern United States. The leaves, when crushed, emit a spicy, fragrant oil, in particular the Oswego Tea variety. It is considered a good companion plant for tomatoes, and it is also known to help improve the health and flavor of the tomatoes and wards off pests. Divide the plant in the spring and in the fall, cut back the plant within an inch of the ground.
Bee Balm has a long history of being used for medicinal purposes. As a poultice, it is used for skin infections, rashes, and minor wounds. Tea made from the plant has been used to treat mouth and throat infections. Pulverized leaves are used to treat bee stings (thus the common name). It is also the natural antiseptic Thymol used in modern commercial mouthwashes.
8 comments:
What are you supposed to do when it gets the powdery mildew? Eradicate or just wait? Are you feeling better now? I have been wondering how you and your family have been. Take care...
Rosey
So beebalm is also bergamot. I like the scent especially in Body Shop's bath range. Bergamot smells like lemongrass. Now, I can see that the flowers are very pretty and pink too.
Hmm. I did not know all this. I have red bee balm and I really like it but I do think I am a new fan of this lovely pink version. I will have to keep my eye out for it. I love the way it smells and the hummingbirds it attracts are delightful to watch.
How does it perform in containers? Maybe I can squeeze a small pot in amid my heirloom tomatoes next year... Thanks for the great info!
I am addicted to Bergamot in all scents!
Jen, I have this Monarda and just love it. It did not mildew for me this summer like some of my others. I will have to remember that it is good for bee stings.
I was thinking that's the kind I have in one of my front yard beds, but then was thinking "delight" was in the name, and when I looked it up, it turned out to be 'Petite Delight'. I'm not sure what the difference is, but the blooms of your kind look pretty fancy. Mine didn't get mildew, either. My zinnias did.
I'm thinking Earl Gray tea, which is one of my favorites, has oil of bergamont. I forgot that was monarda. Thanks for the reminder. I got a red kind this last summer, too. I'll have to see about making some tea with them.
Bee balm is one of my favorites because the hummingbirds love it. Last summer ours was eaten practically down to the ground by slugs. I had no idea slugs even liked them. -Jackie
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