Oswego Tea Monarda didyma

Monarda didyma, known by a number of different common names including Bee Balm, Oswego Tea, and Bergamot, is native to eastern North America where it typically occurs in bottomlands, thickets, moist woods and along streambanks from Maine to Minnesota south to Missouri and Georgia. This plant is an erect perennial herb that grows between 2-3' tall. It is clump forming and up to 3' wide. 

The common name of Bee Balm is in reference to a former use of plant resins to soothe bee stings. The common name of Oswego Tea is in reference to a former use of plants leaves for tea by the Oswego Indians of New York State. The toothed, aromatic leaves (3-5” long) are still used today for teas and in salads. The common name of Wild Bergamot is in reference to the purported similarity of the aroma of plant flowers to the bergamot orange. Flowers have a minty, citrus, sweet, hot flavor and bloom in the summer, although deadheading prolongs the blooming period. This plant prefers full sun and soil with good moisture. It is intolerant of drought. Powdery mildew and rust are main disease problems.

Bee Balm is native to the North Carolina mountains and may be seen along the Blue Ridge Parkway flowering in summer. 

Bee Balm is a butterfly, bee, and hummingbird magnet for border fronts.  It provides color and contrast for the perennial border, cottage garden, wild garden, specimen planting, native plant garden, meadow, herb garden, naturalized planting or along ponds or streams. Good plant for butterfly gardens and bird gardens. This plant spreads rapidly in shaded sites, and can become invasive in beds. Cultivar selections with pink to purple flower hues. 

Fire Risk: This plant has a medium flammability rating. 

Seasons of Interest: 

  Blooms:  Late summer            Nut/Fruit/Seed:  Fall

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Plants are susceptible to powdery mildew, especially in crowded gardens, but it is usually in the late season after flowering.  Prune stems to increase airflow.  Severe cases may require fungicidal sprays. In addition, if the soil is allowed to dry out, the stressed plants become increasingly susceptible to disease. Rust can also be a problem.

Monarda spreads rapidly through underground runners which must be cut back to keep it in place.

Quick ID Hints:

• Erect herbs with square stems, opposite leaves
• Leaves are coarse, pubescent, minute axillary leafy shoots
• Inflorescence of leafy-bracteated, dense glomerules
• Flowers are 2-lipped, elongated thin corolla tubes