Didyma

Bee Balm - Monarda didyma - How to grow Bee Balm

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• published: 22 Jul 2015
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Some things just don’t turn out as advertised, and sometimes it is a blessed event. When I ordered a plant of Monarda x ‘Jacob Kline’ from a nursery which shall remain nameless , I got the little plant in the spring of last year, planted it in the appropriate place and lo and behold, the flowers were decidedly NOT deep red. Fortunately for me, my design was not dependent on that specific hue to be successful, and indeed, I like the ‘wine-red’ color of these flowers in a vase as much as the deep red of ‘Jacob Kline.’ These surprises are replete in the gardener’s world. After a bit of whining and/or gnashing of teeth, one must adopt the famous stiff upper lip and go on about one’s business of making it all work out somehow. A garden is not a static piece; it evolves, it surprises, it humiliates even. Don’t be shy about moving things around that aren’t right in combination with nearby companions, or if the setting is not right for the health of the plant. This is one of the joys of gardening: getting it right after failure. Of course there are cases of ‘beating one’s head against a rock,’ or repeated failures, but for most gardeners it is a matter of jiggering things one way or another. Raising the Daphne above ground level and adding sharp sand to the soil, siting it in a protected spot where winter winds won’t burn the foliage or desicate the roots, using a microclimate to advantage, these are all part of enjoying those wonderfully fragrant flowers of that genus. So in my infinite wisdom, I left this plant alone. Actually, one might not be able to get rid of Monarda if you wanted to. It is a really tough customer, with miriad survival tactics. It is a member of the Mint family, Lamiaceae, which includes some very invasive cousins and uncles. Best to restrain some of them in a pot, being careful to deadhead as the summer progresses, lest they escape to invade your garden beds. Some like that look, as it provides a very persistent ground cover, eliminating the need for mulch. There are about 15 or so species within the Monarda genus, with many hybrids and selected varieties, all native to the United States. Monarda loves the sun, but will do just fine in shade, although it gets a bit ‘floppy’ in that condition, trying to stretch for sun and eventually falling over on itself. Very unkempt looking. Average garden soil is just fine, and it thrives on moisture, so water thoroughly or plant near a stream or other water source. Deadhead during the summer to encourage more and longer blooming. Monarda is also called Bee-balm, as it is very attractive to bees and other pollinators. This makes it somewhat difficult as a cut flower, and planted around the playground. Bee-balm was used by more than a handful of tribes of First Peoples, who recognized its antiseptic powers by using it for poultices for skin infections and minor wounds. Mouth and throat ailments were treated with a tea, and also used as a carminative, which is an active ingredient that relieves excessive flatulence, as well as for headaches and fever. It was also used as a seasoning for wild game. The pinkish red flowers of our Monarda are almost a cool color, while most of the genus sports the hottest tones in the mint family. Within two years, the small plant has grown into a nice patch, which I will divide next year. Planted next to Echinacea backed up by Joe-Pye Weed (Eupatorium), this vignette is a nice native plant herbal set.