Scarlet Bee Balm, Monarda didyma, close up of red flowers
Scarlet Bee Balm, Monarda didyma with hummingbird
Scarlet Bee Balm, Monarda didyma with Black Eyed Susan
Scarlet Bee Balm, Monarda didyma, close up of red flowers
Scarlet Bee Balm, Monarda didyma with hummingbird
Scarlet Bee Balm, Monarda didyma with Black Eyed Susan
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Wild Scarlet Bee Balm
SKU: AM018936
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Overview
A native wildflower beloved for its brilliant red tufted blooms atop tall, sturdy stems, Scarlet Bee Balm is favored by hummingbirds, butterflies, and pollinators as a source of abundant nectar. Deliciously fragrant foliage is deer and rabbit resistant. Tall and dramatic, this wildflower spreads readily, ideal for rain gardens, cottage gardens, and an intriguing backdrop in perennial borders. (Monarda)
key features
Botanical Name
Monarda didyma
Advantages
Native, Bee Friendly, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Deer Resistant, Rabbit Resistant, Naturalizes, Cut Flowers, Fragrant
Growing Zones
Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9
Light Requirements
Full Sun, Half Sun / Half Shade
Soil Moisture
Moist / Wet
Mature Height
24-48" tall (2-4 feet)
Mature Spread
24-36" wide
Bloom Time
Mid summer to fall
SKU
AM018936
Description
(24-48" tall x 24-36" wide) Brilliant red, shaggy-topped blooms make Scarlet Bee Balm a winner in gardens and meadows. Also called Oswego Tea, Red Bergamot, and Horsemint. This nectar-rich wildflower is stunning and a beacon for pollinators. More tolerant of wet soils than many perennials, Scarlet Bee Balms is also ideal for rain gardens. Scarlet Bee Balm has a long bloom period, especially if you deadhead to remove spent blooms, and its upright shape makes it a lovely companion for mounding perennials like Black-Eyed Susan and Sedum. The stems, which are square in cross-section, hint at its place in the mint family, as does the aroma of the leaves when crushed. Like many mints, Bee Balm spreads by underground rhizomes, so it will readily naturalize to fill in your garden. Plant it in moist, rich soil in full sun to part shade; the plant appreciates some afternoon shade in hot-summer locales. Give the plants plenty of space to spread and divide plants every few years to ensure good air circulation, which helps prevent powdery mildew on the foliage. Deer and rabbit resistant. Hardy in zones 4-9.
