Bee balm, also known as monarda, Oswego tea, horsemint and bergamont, is a member of the mint family that produces vibrant, wide summer flowers in white, pink, red and purple. It is prized for its color and its tendency to attract bees and butterflies. You’ll want to replant your new divisions immediately, as bee balm doesn’t like dry roots either. Staking: Taller cultivars of bee balm occasionally need staking, but usually the strong square stems do a good job of keeping it upright and stray outer stems can be cut off. How to Plant Bee Balm. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Shake off as much soil as you can, and divide your dug-up clumps into smaller clumps. It can spread quickly, though, and requires a bit of care to keep it under control. Posted by. This is a good example of a native plant that is beneficial to wildlife yet problematic for some growers. Early spring is the best time to dig and divide bee balms. Bee balm spreads rapidly on its own through specialized underground stems known as rhizomes, so you’ll have ample opportunity to make divisions of new growth. Compact, Monarda 'Petite Delight' (Bee Balm) is a clump-forming perennial of oval habit boasting masses of lavender-rose flowers, borne in dense, globular terminal heads. Bee balm is a perennial wild flower grown for many purposes in a flower garden. Planting: Plant bee balm in the spring or early fall. This is because it quickly spreads via underground rhizomes. Bee balms spread rapidly via underground stems or stolons. As I mentioned above, after about two to three years, you may find that the center part of clumps of bee balm has declined, with sections that are growing poorly. Growing from cuttings is a great choice if you have only a few large plants and want to propagate a specific variety. The best time to take divisions is in early spring, just as the new shoots start sprouting out of the soil. 14 comments. You can also propagate Monarda from seeds, or start new plants from stem cuttings that you can root and then transplant. Bee balm grows in … Bee balm control can be achieved effectively by dividing bee balm. Add to that the roots are not very deep so a little pluck here and a little there and I keep it well in control. Their rhizomes can easily spread a foot in a season! The flowers are distinct with a spiky appearance. Mixed with Cone Flowers and Phlox, they present an astounding display of colour through most of the mid to latter parts of summer. Sow about three seeds per cell in a lightweight, sterilized seed-starting mix. In other words, hybrids are not true to seed. The leaves have a minty aroma when crushed. 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While studying journalism in college in 2003, Trent Rhode stumbled upon the world of gardening while working on an assignment. This is generally how I propagate my bee balm plants. Plant the bee balm to a depth of ¼ to ½-inch deep, and space plants 12-inches apart. Gardeners can start their bee balm planting in the garden in the mid-spring after the last frosts fall. Choose the strongest plant to keep and thin them to one per cell after their first true leaves have formed. GARDENER'S PATH® IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ASK THE EXPERTS LLC. Bee balm thrives in full sunshine. Sow Lemon Bee Balm seeds directly in prepared areas in the spring when temperatures begin to warm. To harvest, bend the plants over and place a paper bag under the flower heads. Subsequently, one may also ask, does bee balm spread? Perhaps the most commonly cultivated variety, M. didyma, boasts bright red tufted blossoms with tubular petals. Leave two to three shoots per divided clump with an intact root system that’s at least six inches in diameter. Gently and quickly shake the plant to release the seed. Bee balm spreads but not as aggressively as other members of the mint family. There are quite a few varieties of Monarda. Keep an eye on the cuttings to check for root growth coming out of the bottom of the pots, which should happen in two to four weeks. Propagating bee balm plants is a great way to keep them in the garden year after year or to share them with others. Plant these sections wherever you like and water regularly for a few weeks. In addition, the centers of the clumps often die out within a few years. A plant I had never heard of until I moved to Minnesota, I have found it to be quite striking in the garden. As I mentioned above, after about two to three years, you may find that the center part of clumps of bee balm has declined, with sections that are growing poorly. Blooming for weeks from mid to late summer, they rest upon a whorl of decorative bracts and attract scores of butterflies and hummingbirds. You can do this by taping pencils or dulled sticks to the corners on the outside of the tray, for example. The Bee Balm plant should be kept separate from 18-24 inches apart. across (5 cm), borne in dense, globular terminal heads. save hide report. Submerge the cuttings two inches deep in four-inch pots filled with vermiculite or potting mix. Bee balm is a perennial flowering herb in the mint family. How to Grow and Care for Peppermint Plants, 13 of the Best Evergreen Shrubs for Your Garden, How to Prune and Control Asiatic Jasmine Vines, How to Grow Swiss Chard for Fall Harvests. And although it doesn’t need a lot of help spreading to nearby places in your garden beds via underground rhizomes, sometimes it can use a little help in terms of rejuvenating older plants, which tend to become crowded and lose their vigor with age. 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