Key Features
- Produces vibrant red, tubular flowers arranged in distinctive rounded clusters.
- Upright herbaceous perennial with aromatic green foliage and branching stems.
- Excellent for cottage gardens, flower borders, pollinator gardens, and naturalized landscapes.
- Performs best in full sun to partial shade with rich, moist, well-drained soil.
- Attractive blooms can bring bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds to the garden.
Growing Benefits
- Adds bold red color and vertical interest to garden beds.
- Creates an inviting space for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
- Perennial growth provides recurring seasonal interest.
- Works beautifully in cottage gardens, borders, and pollinator plantings.
- Aromatic foliage adds texture and sensory appeal to outdoor spaces.
Seed Specifications
- Common Name: Red Bee Balm, Scarlet Bee Balm, Oswego Tea
- Botanical Name: Monarda didyma
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Colors: Bright red to scarlet red
- Height: Approximately two to four feet
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Rich, moist, well-drained soil
- Water: Regular and consistent
- Germination Time: Approximately ten to twenty-one days under favorable conditions
- Sowing Depth: Surface sow or cover very lightly
- Spacing: Approximately eighteen to twenty-four inches
- Growing Zones: USDA Zones four through nine
- Flowering/Maturity: Typically flowers during summer after establishment
- Uses: Pollinator gardens, cottage gardens, flower borders, naturalized landscapes, and ornamental plantings
Growing Tips
- Select a sunny location with rich, moist, well-drained soil.
- Press seeds gently onto the soil surface because they need light to support germination.
- Keep the soil consistently moist while seeds germinate and seedlings establish.
- Provide good spacing and airflow to support healthy foliage.
Seed Storage
Store unused seeds in a cool, dry, dark location. Keep them sealed in their original packet or an airtight container away from humidity, heat, and direct sunlight.
Unique Facts About Seeds
- Monarda didyma belongs to the mint family, Lamiaceae.
- The common name bee balm reflects the plant's strong attraction to bees and other pollinators.
- The red flowers are composed of many small tubular blooms arranged in dense, rounded clusters.
- The aromatic leaves can release a pleasant scent when crushed.