Monarda Bee Balm

The Monarda Bee Balm is a North American perennial that thrives in woodland areas. It is a genus of blooming plants in the mint family Lamiaceae. Common plant names include Oswego, bergamot, and horsemint. The plants thrive in the sun and well-drained, moist soil. However, they produce fewer flowers and spread horizontally when grown in partial shade.

Monarda Bee Balm Gets Quite Large

A mature plant is 24 to 48 inches high and 12 inches wide. It does well in rich, wet soil with a pH range of 6.5 and grows best in hardiness zones 4 to 9. 

Monarda Bee Balm Has Very Unique Blooms

The Monarda Bee Balm has an open flower shaped like a daisy with tube-shaped petals in the gloom of purple, white, red, and pink. There are fifteen kinds and over fifty different plant cultivars grown in gardens, while some are found in the wild. Their plant's flowering period is from July to August.

Monarda Bee Balm Has A Rich History

The Monarda Bee Balm, which is indigenous to North America, got its botanical name from Nicholas Mornadez, a Spanish physician who was the first to discover and define the plant in the 16th century. Early American settlers called it Oswego since the Oswego Indians were using it. Currently, Bergamot is also referred to as Scarlet.

• All pollinators, including butterflies and hummingbirds, also prefer the plant.

• It contains high concentrations of thymol, a potent antiseptic found in mouthwash.

Hardy Planting Zones- 4-9

Sun or Shade – Part Shade to Total Sun

Mature Height - 3-4'

Mature Width- 2-3'

Bloom Season – Late Summer

Gardener Status- Beginner

Soil Type- any moist soil