Bee Balm Monarda bradburiana
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Bee Balm:
- Phonetic Spelling
- mo-NAR-da brad-bur-ee-AH-nuh
- Description
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Eastern beebalm is a herbaceous perennial inf the mint family (Lamiaceae) and is native to the southern and central US. Genus name honors Nicholas Monardes physician and botanist of Seville.
Eastern bebalm grows 1-2 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide in a neat mound. It tolerates full sun to part shade and medium to dry, even rocky well-drained soils. It needs good air circulation and naturalizes well by self-seeding. Deadheading will help promote additional blooms.
This plant blooms before other monardas in April to May and the showy lavender flowers attract bees. The leaves are scented and the plant is generally resistant to damage by deer.
Plant this in the native pollinator garden near the front of the border, in groups or in a naturalized area.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Powdery mildew can be a significant problem with the monardas, particularly in crowded gardens with poor air circulation. This species has some mildew resistance, however. Rust can also be a problem.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Pollinator Garden in Full Sun
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Monarda
- Species:
- bradburiana
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- East Central & East U.S.A
- Distribution:
- Central and southern US
- Wildlife Value:
- Resistant to deer. Flowers attract bees.
- Edibility:
- Leaves may be used in teas
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Ovoid nutlets in summer
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Description:
- Tubular, two-lipped, pinkish to whitish, purple-spotted flowers appear in dense, globular, solitary, terminal heads atop square stems. Each flower head is subtended by (rests upon) a whorl of showy, purplish-tinged, leafy bracts. Blooms earlier than most monardas in April to May
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Toothed, aromatic, oblong, greyish-green leaves
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Square green stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Rabbits
