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How to Grow and Care for Bee Balm Plants

Monarda didyma

This plant grows best with full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditionsHummingbird PlantButterfly FlowerNo DeerWhite flowering plantRed flowering plantPink flowering plantPurple flowering plantA photograph of Monarda didyma is availableHow to Use the Plant Care Icons at The Garden Helper
August21,1998
Hi! A friend of mine is digging up a perennial garden and gave me bunches of flowers to transplant.
I got some bee balm and don't know what to do with it. It has already had one bloom and is quite tall -
I planted it, and am wondering... do I cut it back? Will it flower again?
I'd never seen bee balm before, but from the picture on your site I will love it,
so now I'm committed to keeping it alive. It also has a wonderful smell. Thanks for your help.

Growing Requirements for Bee Balm Plants

Monarda didyma is hardy in USDA zones 4-9
The Bee Balm plant grows best in full sun but will tolerate light shade.
Bee Balms thrive in any moist soil that is rich in organic matter such as manure, compost, or leaf mold.
Fertilize in the spring with a good all purpose (10-10-10) liquid plant food.

Bee Balm Growing Tips

Be sure to allow for good air circulation around Bee Balm plants to prevent attacks from powdery mildew!
You can stimulate a second flowering in the same year by cutting the flowers right after they finish blooming.
 Grandma Clara, a Gnome

Pruning and Dividing Bee Balm Plants

In the fall, prune your Monarda plants to within an inch of the ground.
Monarda plants grow from two to four feet tall depending on the variety, and will fit well into your Hummingbird, Butterfly or Herb Garden. Lower growing varieties of Bee Balm can be used for a perennial border planting.
Like other members of the Mint Family, Bee Balm can become invasive, but you can keep your clump contained by dividing the clump in either spring or fall.
Bee Balm plants should be divided every 3 years anyway, to keep them looking tidy.
Dig up the root clump in the early spring, discard the older, inner portions, divide the remaining parts and re-plant the new divisions 12 to 15 inches apart.
Bee Balm Plant
Monarda didyma
A Bee Balm Plant Blooming in the Garden The Flowers of a Bee Balm Plant, Monarda didyma


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