🐝 Bee Balm
Monarda didyma
Hummingbird happy hour, open all summer.
Sun
Full sun to part shade
Days to harvest
Perennial; blooms summer of second year from seed
Spacing
18–24 inches apart
Soil pH
6.0–6.7
How to grow
Plant in spring in rich, moisture-retentive soil — in Florida, give it afternoon shade and don't let it dry out. It spreads by runners, so give it room or a buried edging barrier. Divide clumps every 2–3 years to keep it vigorous and less mildew-prone.
Water & feeding
Loves consistent moisture; drought stress invites mildew and sad blooms. Mulch to keep roots cool.
Common problems
- Powdery mildew — the classic monarda complaint; choose resistant varieties
- Spreads aggressively by runners in happy soil
- Rust in humid climates
Harvest
Deadhead to prolong bloom, or leave seed heads for goldfinches (they go feral for monarda seed). Leaves make a great Oswego tea — the plant's colonial-era claim to fame.
Nerdy fact: Bee balm's genus Monarda honors Nicolás Monardes, a 16th-century Spanish physician who never saw the plant grow — he described it from dried specimens. Taxonomy by mail.