Bring the buzz back to your backyard with Bee Balm (Monarda didyma)! This striking North American native is a member of the mint family and a must-have for any pollinator or butterfly garden. Its unique, shaggy blooms are a magnet for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

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In this guide, we dive into the "square-stemmed" secrets of Monarda—from its love of full sun and moist roots to how you can identify its cousins in the mint family. We also address common challenges like powdery mildew and share our "pro-tip" on why you should divide this plant every three years to keep it healthy and manageable.

Video Chapters: 
0:00 Introduction to Bee Balm (Monarda didyma) 
0:18 Native Origins and Perennial Habits 
0:38 Growth Habit: Height and Sun Requirements 
0:49 The Mint Family Connection: Square Stems 0:54 Identifying the Mint Family 
1:04 Attracting Pollinators (Bumblebees & More) 
1:13 Color Varieties: Red, Purple, and White 
1:28 Bloom Season and Deadheading Tips 
1:53 Fragrance and Garden Placement 
2:21 Dealing with Powdery Mildew & Fungal Disease 
2:50 Maintenance: Dividing Bee Balm Every 3 Years

What you’ll learn in this guide:

Pollinator Appeal: Why this plant is a staple for any wildlife-friendly landscape.
Disease Management: How to handle late-summer powdery mildew without losing your plants.
Growth Secrets: Why moisture is the key to those 4-foot tall summer displays.
Propagation: How to divide and share your "colonizing" Bee Balm with friends.
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Some things just don’t turn out as advertised, and sometimes it is a blessed event. When I ordered a plant of Monarda x ‘Jacob Kline’ from a nursery which shall remain nameless , I got the little plant in the spring of last year, planted it in the appropriate place and lo and behold, the flowers were decidedly NOT deep red. Fortunately for me, my design was not dependent on that specific hue to be successful, and indeed, I like the ‘wine-red’ color of these flowers in a vase as much as the deep red of ‘Jacob Kline.’ 

So in my infinite wisdom, I left this plant alone. Actually, one might not be able to get rid of Monarda if you wanted to. It is a really tough customer, with miriad survival tactics.  It is a member of the Mint family, Lamiaceae, which includes some very invasive cousins and uncles.  Best to restrain some of them in a pot, being careful to deadhead as the summer progresses, lest they escape to invade your garden beds. Some like that look, as it provides a very persistent ground cover, eliminating the need for mulch.  There are about 15 or so species within the Monarda genus, with many hybrids and selected varieties, all native to the United States.

 Monarda loves the sun, but will do just fine in shade, although it gets a bit ‘floppy’ in that condition, trying to stretch for sun and eventually falling over on itself. Very unkempt looking.  Average garden soil is just fine, and it thrives on moisture, so water thoroughly or plant near a stream or other water source.  Deadhead during the summer to encourage more and longer blooming. 

 Monarda is also called Bee-balm, as it is very attractive to bees and other pollinators.  This makes it somewhat difficult as a cut flower, and planted around the playground.  Bee-balm was used by more than a handful of tribes of First Peoples, who recognized its antiseptic powers by using it for poultices for skin infections and minor wounds. Mouth and throat ailments were treated with a tea, and also used as a carminative, which is an active ingredient that relieves excessive flatulence, as well as for headaches and fever.  It was also used as a seasoning for wild game.  

The pinkish red flowers of our Monarda are almost a cool color, while most of the genus sports the hottest tones in the mint family. Within two years, the small plant has grown into a nice patch, which I will divide next year.  Planted next to Echinacea backed up by Joe-Pye Weed (Eupatorium), this vignette is a nice native plant herbal set.