Crimson Bee-balm Monarda didyma
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- mo-NAR-da DID-ee-mah
- Description
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Bee balm is an herbaceous perennial in the Lamiaceae (mint) family. Native to the North Carolina mountains, it may be seen along the Blue Ridge Parkway flowering during the summer months.
This plant prefers moist, well-drained soils and full sun but will tolerate some shade. Bee balm can reach a height of 4 feet and will spread rapidly by underground stolons. Blossoms attract bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies, and the leaves have a minty aroma when crushed.
Bee balm provides color and contrast for the perennial border, cottage garden, specimen planting, native and pollinator garden, meadow, naturalized planting, and along ponds or streams. It is used in herbal medicine, and its flowers are edible.
Quick ID Hints:
- Stems are erect and square with opposite leaves
- Leaves are coarse, pubescent, minute axillary leafy shoots
- Inflorescence is leafy-bracketed, dense glomerules
- Flowers are two-lipped, elongated, thin corolla tubes
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:
Plants are susceptible to powdery mildew and rust. Avoid overhead watering to minimize mildew. Also, some cultivars have shown a fair amount of resistance to powdery mildew (where fair is defined as less than half the plants studied dying from the disease). See Phytophthora Root and Crown Rot in the Landscape.
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Vegetable, Herb and Mostly Native Pollinator Garden Davidson County Extension Demonstration Garden Bird-Friendly Spaces Vegetable Garden with Pollinator Plants in Mt. Pleasant Pollinator Garden in Full Sun Pollinator Garden in Partial Shade Herb & Flower Cottage Garden Beehive Garden, Wake Co West Side Foundation Planting in Cabarrus County Border Landscape Pinewild County Club, Moore County
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Jacob Cline'
Large red flowers. Fair amount of resistance to downy mildew. - 'Petite Delight'
Fair amount of resistance to downy mildew.
- 'Jacob Cline'
- 'Jacob Cline', 'Petite Delight'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Jacob Cline'
Large red flowers. Fair amount of resistance to downy mildew. - 'Petite Delight'
Fair amount of resistance to downy mildew.
- 'Jacob Cline'
- 'Jacob Cline', 'Petite Delight'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Monarda
- Species:
- didyma
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The plant resins have been used to soothe bee stings. The Oswego Indians of New York state also used the leaves for tea. Used in herbal medicine.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Leaf Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern North America
- Distribution:
- CT , GA , IA , IL , IN , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OR , PA , SC , TN , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts bumblebees, swallowtail butterflies, and Ruby-throated hummingbirds. It is a larval host to the hermit sphinx, orange mint moth, and the raspberry pyrausta. Members of the genus Monarda support the following specialized bees: Dufourea monardae, Perdita (Perdita) gerhardi, and Protandrena abdominalis.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Colorful
- Fragrance
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- This plant is resistant to damage by deer and rabbits.
- Edibility:
- Used in teas, flavor jellies, soups, stews, and fruit salads; edible flowers.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Ovoid nutlets display from September to October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The scarlet flowers are in a compact rounded 2-4 inch head, usually single and terminal. Each flower head is subtended by a whorl of showy, red-tinged, leafy bracts. Flowers are zygomorphic and are borne in 1-2 whorls. Flowers are 13-15 veined, have 5 teeth, and the corolla is narrowly tubular. Lobes of flowers are 2-lipped, erect and spreading. The upper lobe is longer than the lower lobe. Blooms from July to September.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 3-6 inch long lance-shaped to ovate fragrant leaves with serrated margins and reddish veins. Undersides have spreading hairs.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Description:
- Stems are square and thinly pilose.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Recreational Play Area
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Edible Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Deer
- Insect Pests
- Rabbits
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Weedy
