monarda pardon my purple - Gardening
If you’re looking for a hardy, native perennial to add a splash of color to your garden, bee balm (Monarda) is an excellent choice. This pollinator favorite is renowned for its culinary and medicinal uses and importance to the native ecosystem. Monarda are used in beds and borders to attract hummingbirds, pollinating insects, and insects that control garden pests.
Understanding the Context
They are prone to developing powdery mildew in high humidity, especially if planted in a place without good air circulation. Learn how to plant, grow, and care for bee balm, including tips for preventing powdery mildew and choosing native varieties such as wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) known for its lavender-pink tubular flowers, and scarlet bee balm (Monarda didyma) known for its red blossoms. Monarda is a genus of herbaceous perennial plants in the mint family (Lamiaceae) native to North America, where 25 species are recognized. They typically grow 2 to 4 feet tall, but some may get taller.
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Key Insights
There are so many glorious monarda varieties. This perennial is a butterfly magnet, adding fragrance and biodiversity to your yard. We profile 10 of the best. Get monarda plant care tips from HGTV experts. Plus, learn if monarda likes sun or shade and what to plant with monarda.
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Monarda is a popular perennial plant used in bee and butterfly gardens. It is commonly known as Bee Balm and its fragrant blossoms attract bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinating insects. Monarda didyma, known by a number of different common names including bee balm, Oswego tea and bergamot, is native to eastern North America where it typically occurs in bottomlands, thickets, moist woods and along streambanks from Maine to Minnesota south to Missouri and Georgia.