Bee Balm - Monarda Didyma - Complete Grow and Care Guide

[@SisterShirley]

One of the first plants I bought when I moved into my dream home Ordered from Spring Hill A dozen years later they are still growing strong I've divided them Added to my landscape in other areas And given some away When I want to tidy up a space I simply water the soil and gently pull them and regroup them It's a plant that keeps on giving

[@growitbuildit]

They are awesome flowers. Easy to manage, and grow.

[@heavymechanic2]

Last February I ordered a Monarda Sugar Buzz Bubblegum Blast plant and a packet of seeds: Panorama Mix. Kept the plant in a container and planted seeds in small pots until my flower garden construction was finished over old tree stumps. The Bee Balm seeds are growing and I have them in a protected area from frost hoping the rhizomes will continue to develop until spring returns. Looking for plants to keep the honeybees happy.

[@SisterShirley]

@@heavymechanic2 Sugar Buzz Bubblegum Blast Bee Balm sounds delightful! What catalogue did you order from?

[@heavymechanic2]

@@SisterShirley Hi, the Monarda plant and seeds was purchased from Park Seeds.

[@therandeydenyah]

​@@heavymechanic2 love your name!

[@kristeetrisler4942]

I am honestly writing this because for the VERY first time my son watched the whole video! We live in Western NY and he will be able to earn a cub scout badge for things he is doing and learning. Thank you sir. I will literally be dividing my monarda up as I didn't know you could split it up so easily.

[@growitbuildit]

That is excellent Kristee! I'm glad he enjoyed the video. I actually pulled about 20 plants from the patch by my house this year. Just keep a good eye for those pairs of triangle leaves with a bit of purple. It doesn't take too much root for the plant to survive. And right now is a great time, as it is a long time before blooming. Good luck to you and your son in Cub Scouts!

[@kristeetrisler4942]

@@growitbuildit he will be a full fledged wolf in cub scouts with a grow it badge! We are sharing the bee balm with the fire chief's wife. I had about 40 plants last year they definitely are multiplying. She has had no success at attracting hummingbirds in the past with this bee balm she will :)

[@growitbuildit]

Outstanding. This definitely brings in the hummingbirds. Good luck and enjoy!

[@debmunson1684]

Be sure to leave the dry seed heads through the fall and winter because the birds will land on them and get the seed. Goldfinches were on mine in April getting the seed.

[@larsfinlay7325]

great tip, thanks Deb!

[@desamecyra1]

This is my favorite plant for both beauty and because the flowers are a great substitute for oregano, in a pinch. I toss a handful of dried flower heads in winter stews…

[@katiekane5247]

I've been looking at a few native patches on the side of my dirt road. They get mowed by the county so I don't feel bad about taking some. Thanks for the vid, I feel more confident about digging up a piece.

[@tomaaron6187]

Thanks for the info. I like the casual presentation…casual doesn’t mean second best but a positive as feels like I’m in your garden. I grow beebalm in our Alberta, Canada garden. Same experience with wildlife…a ruby throated hummingbird magnet. Our plants will grow 18 inches or 30 inches depending on how much water it gets. I’ll cut a few back to get smaller multiple flower heads in some places just for variety. Yes, easy to propagate from rhizomes but never overly aggressive. Most common butterfly on ours is the White Admiral. We have a few bumblebee nesting boxes but never noticed if the bees are attracted to beebalm or not…they have lots of goodies to choose from.

[@growitbuildit]

Thanks Tom - I love the flower too. I've never seen a White Admiral out here. This year we had a dry/cool Spring and my Bee Balm wasn't in full bloom until early July, which is pretty rare. And the bumblebees do visit the flower, but not often. I think it just depends on what is available for them.

[@Irishjay-gu5pb]

Yeah, I have the purple Bee Balm, I want to try different varieties this year, as the purple Bee Balm is super hardy, spreads, and blooms from Spring to Fall. ;) Thanks for the great information!!!

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome Jennifer - I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Good luck!

[@foxybuddy]

I just bought the purple bee balm from garden center. Not sure if plant it in pot or in the ground. Was it easy to dig out the roots?

[@dashapaul4448]

Starting today hoping for success purple is my favorite color

[@NovelFindsByKassi]

Thanks so much. We planted some last year late in the season and it never bloomed and this year it came back so strong! I'm glad that they're so easy to propigate because it's a real hit in the garden!

[@growitbuildit]

Excellent - it is a wonderful flower! Congrats on it coming back.

[@yergman]

I have 3 kinds of monarda, including lilac, dark 'Purple Rooster', and red. The lilac-colored one is the most popular with the bees, and the other two get all the hummingbird's attention. It is also a good, attractive filler between spent lily stalks. You have better success with the seeds than I have so I just divide the roots in Spring. As long as there is a small green growth they will survive if given enough water. Also, there is a short bubble gum pink variety, too.

[@growitbuildit]

Sounds like you have a very colorful display going at your home. I've only got the straight native variety Monarda didyma at the moment. But I've added three other Monarda species over the years. Right now I've got near-continuous blooms of the 'Monarda style' from May until October.

[@rhondabaroli2683]

I picked a beautiful bouquet today ! My mom in law loved hummingbirds ! 💜

[@growitbuildit]

Excellent - they are a beautiful flower

[@kristeetrisler4942]

Last summer we had many pairs of hummingbirds and their offspring. It is early yet and cool in Chautauqua county so we aren't losing hope. With your video information I transplanted last year exploded over the fall and now spring. 2 small plants have spread about 2-6 feet! Very happy cannot say enough about it.

[@growitbuildit]

Excellent - this is the kind of comment I love reading. Nice work Kristee!

[@mariedeyo7399]

Thank you for giving all the info on the plant. I found plants on a local market this year and I will put them in pots for now. I love the color and looking forwart to make tea from it. I did not know its mint family. So thanks for that information. No one whats trouble with the folks next door just from planting a flower. We dont have hummingbirds in germany but the hummingbirdmoth is comming in my garden. 👍🌻 good job on the video. Take care.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you Marie - I'm glad you found it helpful - good luck on your Bee Balm.

[@Thankful_.]

Just wanted to report in and say mine has bloomed! Thanks again for suggesting and providing what you learned about growing this plant. Have a good day!

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome V

[@leidycasadiego3535]

Great video. I got 2 purple monarda plants just because I'm decided to attract hummingbirds to my native garden. Researching, I found out that hummingbirds prefer red color so I needed one. I was very lucky to find one on clearance at my local hardware store. So now I have 3 monardas. Found to wait for next Summer and see if I can reach my goal of having hummingbirds here ✨

[@growitbuildit]

They are great for attracting them Leidy. Another species that you may want to consider is the Cardinal Flower. You normally don't see these in stores and need to grow them from seed. But having about 6 plants arrayed in a circle is pretty, and it does an excellent job at attracting hummingbirds. I haven't made a full video on that plant yet (next year), but I do have a good article /profile on the plant here - growitbuildit.com/cardinal-flower-101-lobelia-cardinalis/

[@bestill6635]

Best teaching video yet. You’ve earned another subscriber.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@Herculesbiggercousin]

Thank you for such detailed videos on these native North American species! You’re my go-to for this stuff. Have an awesome summer!

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you! Glad you are enjoying the videos.

[@aliciamcguire4008]

Great Video! This was the first year I ever had Bee Balm. I bought mine, not knowing much about them....and wanting to attract Humming Birds. I planted them in an area that got afternoon sun, had to water all the time and only one out of the 4 I bought flowered. Your video was VERY informational and told me basically what I should have done. Thanks so much! I subscribed to your channel.

[@growitbuildit]

Excellent Alicia - I'm very happy you enjoyed it and got some value from it. Good luck next year! This is a wonderful plant, and it is excellent at attracting hummingbirds.

[@patrickbowen5398]

This is a great video. Thorough, informative and visually beautiful to watch. Thanks so much for sharing this. I'm growing this plant now as a young seedling in pots.

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome Patrick - good luck with your seedlings!

[@TheJcfclark]

Good to hear I shouldn't worry about Powdery Mildew 'cause my Bee Balm has it. Thank you for that tip! I think one reason is because some of the BB is in shade part of the day and I believe BB prefers full sun all day -- it's better for its health! I've never dead-headed but am trying it this year to see what happens -- my BB crop has been well-used this summer and is looking a little dog-eared. Probably will thin it out this fall as it has really spread this year; we had an exceptionally long spring and lots of rain so everything -- especially the weeds -- have been loving this growing season! BTW - Great videos of your Hummers -- they are incredibly fast. And good info. Just found your channel today and have subscribed,

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - glad I could help you on the powdery mildew. That's the beauty of native plants - there aren't too many diseases that can really hurt them. Thinning Bee Balm is really easy in the Spring. The sprouts are very identifiable, so you can pull unwanted shoots with confidence. Also - I have never found Bee Balm to be particularly good for deadheading, as any subsequent blooms are much, much less than the original. I'd be curious if you had different results.

[@seamus6994]

Always great information from this guy. Lots of tips and well made videos.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you Seamus!

[@planetaustraliachannel]

I'll live in Australia and I have grown bee balm I brought the seed at first it was quite difficult with the germination but now I've got it it's going wild and it lives with the black sugar cane and it's just about to Bloom 😊. It's just such an amazing herb to watch grow to see how it develops it's so beautiful and I just get a buzz working with it looking at it it's wonderful and I can't wait to see what colour flower. I got. thank you I found your KZbin very informative very relaxing.😊

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you! Bee Balm is truly a wonderful flower. One of the most unique forms and beautiful too.

[@georgealderson4424]

Thank you sir. I enjoyed your video very much. It was interesting to learn about bee balm, which I have just planted jn three places, in the hope of attracting wildlife, though my fingers are not always as green as I would like! As I am in UK I don't expect the humming birds you see will be visiting us! I also scattered some seed for fun so will wait to see what happens! I have to say that I enjoyed the way that your presentation was inclusive, ie you were modestly saying what you had learned and are learning and not being patronising, as some people tend to be at times. As i mentioned I am in northern UK and will be very surprised if I see humming birds but if nothing else, we wiil enjoy the plants! Blessings and peace

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you so much George - I really appreciate the feedback. If there are hummingbirds in the UK, then I bet they would find this plant. It is absolutely gorgeous. You should investigate other members of the Monarda genus, as many have similar flower structures as this one, but are more favorable to bees. I'm particularly fond of Spotted Beebalm (M. punctata) and Wild Bergamot (M. fistulosa). And thank you for the kind words! I try to be as factual as I can in everything I present. And rather than just speaking in generalities, I like to add my experience and particular observations. Thank you again, and blessings to you.

[@georgealderson4424]

@@growitbuildit Thank you! The ones I planted (on the spoil heap of a recently constructed grave of a friend) are called Melua Apple Blossom, which sounds a bit like the name that pop singers gave to their children a few years ago! I don't know if they will do anything - the plants, not the pop songers' off spring!) but we will see if I need to buy a bee keeper's suit to visit my friend's grave, haha

[@douglasknapp2464]

I moved to Florida from Ct and certain plants don’t do well. Thanks to your guidance the 3 seedlings I planted took off,have budded and shortly will bloom.

[@growitbuildit]

That is excellent - congrats and good work!

[@cindyc1674]

Thank you so much for posting this info on crimson monarda. They are stunning and I truly appreciate them and your sharing so much useful techniques and facts about this stunning native flower. Thanks

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome Cindy - I'm glad you found it helpful!

[@babystepsgarden6162]

Thank you! I love Monarda! I began by finding wild Bee Balm near my home in rural Alabama. It was so beautiful. Now I know more about the species and how and where to plant it. ❤❤❤

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome! I'm glad I could help you out, and good luck getting more to grow.

[@ParkerGypsy]

Thank you! You are my favorite gardening channel on KZbin. Keep up the good work

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you so much! Glad you are enjoying my videos

[@louisegarverick5423]

This video was excellent! Thanks, Joe and Tara. Would love to plant some bee balm.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you so much Louise!

[@venicelight1320]

Gorgeous flowers, beautifully photographed... thoroughly informative, greatly inspiring! Thank you!!

[@growitbuildit]

You are welcome Venice! And thank you for the kind words. I really enjoyed making this video.

[@Prairiehawkmn]

I was gifted one of these this spring. Wow! so beautiful. I can't wait to spread it all over my garden!

[@growitbuildit]

It is an amazing flower, and yes, it will spread!

[@andrewc.2952]

I just planted my first one! So excited to see how well it does.

[@growitbuildit]

I really love these flowers. Mine are a little late this year, as it has been pretty dry. But they are starting to bud right now.

[@Keith-xc9wf]

Super easy to transplant or propagate too! Just like you did I just pulled stem, root and all out of the ground and put it in another garden area with some root hormone ! PS you're lucky to have hummingbirds(wow hummingbird moths had no idea) I try to attract them but not much luck in Minnesota! A lot of bumbles and monarchs!

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Keith - it's amazing how easy it is isn't it? We got our first hummingbird moths in 2018 and had around 5 plants. It was just a couple that we noticed visiting. But this year I had sooooo many. It seemed to take a bit longer for them to arrive, but by July we were flush with them and you could see a few each day. And you can get much closer to them! I think it helps that we have so many attractive plants. Kind of like going to eat at an all you can eat buffet rather than a vending machine.

[@jimmynolan5291]

Hey Keith, I'm in the TC and get the Hawk moth and some Hummingbirds. We have a large garden but have to supplement with a Hummingbird feeder. It took a few years but it seems like we get more each year.

[@julietteober]

Thank you so much! I’m bee balm crazy right now - actually I’m all mint crazy - I really am excited to propagate them by rhizomes next spring!🐝🌺🌸🌳🐎

[@growitbuildit]

Mint family is amazing. I love them, and their tenacity

[@charlesmaunder]

In my experience with M. Fistulosa, there is no need to keep the rhizome cuttings in a pot. I just dig out a chunk and put it where ever I want it. I have also planted some that that I just pulled late in the season (just pulled up like a weed) because they were spreading where I didn't want them. they also survived but were a little worse for the ware. I have had success with both M. Fistulosa and M. didyma stem cuttings too. Of course I let them grow in a pot for a while to get established. Good video, thanks. I'm going to have to try seed gathering now.

[@growitbuildit]

I've done that too when temperatures were cool. But in Summer I find that transplanting often kills plants, or really, really stresses them.

[@dianaalbers6327]

OMG Talk about seeds from this, I have a hot pink I found growing in a field so I dug up a piece of the root and planted I swear the next year I must have had 50 plants! I have tried several times to collect seeds I seem to always miss and I do not see anything.... THIS is such a wonderful plant/flower to grow! Smells sooooooooo good!!!

[@growitbuildit]

This has got to be one of the harder plants to collect seed from Diana. Garden or Fall Phlox is also difficult, and must be timed right.

[@theanimalsmagicshop4785]

This was very informative and your pollinator photos were great. I bought two types of heirloom bee balm seeds and look forward to having something for my hummer buddies besides sugar nectar. Didn't realize they like them - thanks for the info!

[@growitbuildit]

You're going to love them. These are some of the prettiest flowers you can grow. And they definitely bring in the hummingbirds.

[@joanmatlaga662]

Appeared in my grdn spring...didn't know what it was til saw urvid....it's just now producing teeny red flowers....must HV reseeded fr on last summer wild flower seeds

[@moonbass13]

Your videos are the absolute best Joe! I started watching the butterfly weed video (I just picked up a plant from a specialty native Ohio nursery) and now I can’t stop watching. 😂 I def need some bee balm next! Great info and beautiful shots of your micro prairie.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you! Glad you are enjoying them. I try to make them comprehensive in regards to info, but entertaining as well.

[@thurstonhowelliii335]

I saw some of these in the Smokey Mountains a long time ago. I was impressed and took a lot of pictures, but had no idea what they were. I’m going to put some in my yard soon

[@growitbuildit]

They are awesome flowers - you will love them.

[@juliejones5734]

I absolutely adore the chunky bumble bee flying away at the end of the video!😂

[@growitbuildit]

He was working so hard!

[@adiposerex5150]

I have planted two batches. Keeping my fingers crossed. I used to have lots of these years ago. They are beautiful.

[@growitbuildit]

Good luck!

[@dianaervin7269]

I have the lavender and love it. This is my second year it and it is quite happy in a container. I have on my patio and it gets morning sun and afternoon sun. Have lots of bees and a few hummers.

[@growitbuildit]

Sounds like you have it in a good spot!

[@mbritt9738]

Your videos are so helpful. I'm in South Central, PA, so it's nice to know bee balm can thrive here. The well-drained soil part is the challenge...SO much clay in our soil here. Now to find it so I can get some! Thanks again!

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - you can find native nurseries here on our interactive map - growitbuildit.com/where-to-buy-native-plants-in-the-united-states/ I don't know where you are exactly, but I would check out Diakon Wilderness Greenhouse. It is a non-profit for a good cause, and has great plants. I've actually found patches of Beebalm in the mountains South of Michaux forest, so yes, it will definitely do well here.

[@gadot2300]

Unlike many sites, this presentation is very informative; it is all well and clearly presented. I tried it to grow it before but I was not successful - maybe it was not the best location. I put 2 nursery bought, nice plants this year in a different locations and they are growing and blooming. I also grow some (wild ones from the seed) but they are still very small. I wander how they are going to overwinter them in Manitoba. Should I protect it, like with the straw or rose huts? Thank you for the really nice video!

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - it is hardy to USDA zone 4, so if you are in that zone you should be ok. Otherwise a thick layer of leaf mulch or straw would help. Regarding your young seedlings, you can transfer them to larger pots to allow them to grow more root mass now. Then, as fall approaches for you, plant them in their final location and they should overwinter just fine. Otherwise, keep them in their pots in an unheated garage or shed, and just don't let them totally dry out.

[@gadot2300]

@@growitbuildit Thank you so much for your care and taking time to reply. I am in zone -3, so I have to take an extra care for of them before winter. Some plants of zone 4 are struggling here, and some of even higher zone are just doing fine (like hyacinths which are close to the house foundation). Thanks once more! Greetings from Manitoba, Canada!

[@sevinaroseman5595]

I have large patches of both the red and the magenta beebalm. Our summer resident hummingbirds will occasionally be seen on the beebalm, but I see many more bees. Usually every single flower has a honey or bumblebee on it..... and there are HUNDREDS of beebalm blossoms right now.

[@growitbuildit]

This plant, Monarda didyma is usually more attractive for hummingbirds, butterflies, and the occasional bumblebee. But it's cousin, Monarda fistulosa brings in a ton of different pollinators. It is blooming right now in zone 7 and 6

[@marycontrary52]

Very comprehensive and helpful tutorial on monarda

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Mary - I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for the kind words!

[@gemmamintful]

I got the bergamot I think you said fistula I'm not sure and I really wanted the red but I was foolish. I have noticed the black stuff on the stems everywhere what is it? Is it bad for the plant?. Do I do anything to fix it? I'm just starting with this on my phone because I can't figure out how to switch it to my TV. I like to watch it on TV because I'm old. I haven't had much experience with it it just bloomed last year and I was in the hospital while it bloomed. I'll have more questions to go along and want to thank you very much for giving the where's and what's and wise about this amazing plant.

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Gloria - I wouldn't worry about the black spots. They will probably clear up or at least not harm the plant. I've never seen any disease ravage Monarda fistulosa. You will probably get powdery mildew, but it is only cosmetic and doesn't require treatment.

[@sharylolson6949]

I have this plant but didn’t know much about it. Thank you 😊

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome Sharyl!

[@JayJoJonny]

Cool! Bought my hummingbird feeder, no birds so I’m going to plant this stuff!

[@growitbuildit]

If there are any hummingbirds around, and you have enough - this will draw them in. Also check out Liatris, Lobelia (Blue & Cardinal), and Cardinal Climber for hummingbirds.

[@christophertaylor9826]

Love this plant been growing it about 5 years and bumblebee love it. Great video and very informative.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you Christopher - it is a wonderful flower.

[@ChuloRob617]

I bought a cabin with ten acres in upstate new york in late 2020 and found one of these growing behind the shed, blossomed for weeks and i do not think it got a minute of direct sun. I just bought a ton of seeds, gonna plant them all around the part of property that isnt forest

[@growitbuildit]

You may want to try to dig up small seedlings this Spring. That would be the fastest way to get a ton of this plant - just plant them around your property.

[@carolfugaban2071]

Thank you I just got some bee balm the fragrance is amazing and now I can plant it love from Michigan 🖐️♥️

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome - good luck getting started with this plant!

[@Cathy_MidwestHome_Hens]

A lady gave me several plants that I dug up from her yard. One of them was this!! I didn’t know what it was. It’s been 3 years now and it has spread from about one foot area to about 4 foot area and 3 feet tall. I just bought two new Bee balm from lowes (not knowing it was the same species) but those say they will get 14”-18” so I’m assuming they are a dwarf/smaller version? One tag says Monarda Didyma “pardon my rose” - the second one from Lowes says it will be 10-14” tall it’s called Leading Lady Razzberry” - plants are Proven Winners. Btw, we have more bumblebees than hummingbirds. This year for the first time, I’m raising black swallowtails!

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - you bought cultivars, which although may be based on the mother species, they have different traits. So your varieties may very well do better with bees based on their bred characteristics.

[@Cenepk101]

2 years ago I planted this & it was amazing. The next year - never came back. Don’t know it I “ weeded “ it out or if it was bullied out by stronger more aggressive plants like cranesbill or daylillies or lady’s mantle. Just bought some more today. Small plants. I’m putting it this time in a bed that I also grow mint, apple mint & horsetail. All the aggressives together. Also have gardenia, confederate rose & knockout roses with muhly grasses too. Wish me luck !!!!

[@growitbuildit]

Sounds like you are going to have a very busy flower bed! Good luck! Hope it comes back this time. Now you know what to look for so it doesn't accidentally get pulled (if that's what happened).

[@Cenepk101]

@@growitbuildit I stay busy yanking out horsetail ....It's a large bed and 8 years old

[@growitbuildit]

Horsetail is awful.

[@Cenepk101]

@@growitbuildit I know. It’s cool & architectural - That’s where the good stops. It has the growth habit of kudzu & wisteria. It pops up like nothing I’ve ever seen. I burned 1587 calories today yanking it out ! Not kidding!!!!

[@suerichardson1289]

Is it recommended to thin the clumps as they come back in the spring? I took some out and potted them and noticed the area in my patch that had been “thinned” the plants are larger. I really enjoy your videos and info. Thanks for sharing.

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Sue - Plants with more 'space' will get larger than overcrowded plants. There is one possible drawback to this though, tall plants may flop over. It generally isn't a problem unless the soil is very rich.

[@grassbag1]

Just planted six 3 inch pots in the ground, i have really bad clay soil i amended with good bagged soil hopefully they survive.

[@growitbuildit]

Members of the mint family have an extreme desire to survive!

[@greenthumbelina7331]

I planted a purple-colored Monarda this fall. I'm really looking forward to next spring, so hopefully, it will survive the winter. I lost quite a few perennials last winter due to the harsh winter here in zone 5a. I'm starting a wildflower garden courtyard in full sun on the south side of my house.

[@growitbuildit]

Good luck - I really love this plant. Maybe give it an extra layer of mulch to help insulate it. If you're having trouble keeping perennials alive, you may want to try to find some plants that grow wild in your area and are native. That way you know that they can survive the winters!

[@greenthumbelina7331]

@@growitbuildit Thank you, that is great advice! These are the plants I've planted so far, Coreopsis, Columbine, Purple Coneflower, and Black-eyed Susan. Can you suggest other plants for me to add to this area, or should some of these be removed?

[@growitbuildit]

I think all of those plants will play well together. As long as there is room, I say go for it. It looks like you could keep color in that area for just about the entire growing season. Deadheading Echinacea will keep the blooms coming until it gets pretty cold. But there are a lot of other late summer/fall flowers. Smooth Blue Aster is a great choice, Turtle head and Fall Phlox both bloom very late too (all of these are blooming now in zone 6/7). Aromatic Aster is yet to bloom, and will bloom through October into November. Although Aromatic Aster can get a bit 'wild'. But you can prune that one to help it look more tidy. But I've not seen anything that blooms as late as Aromatic Aster.

[@greenthumbelina7331]

@@growitbuildit Thank you, for the plant suggestions! I have one Aster that was simply tagged Hardy Aster, I don't know if it's the same as the Aromatic Aster. I'll have to google it. I also have a bright purple fall Phlox that's in bloom now. Turtlehead is one of the plants I looked for this spring, but couldn't find plants or seed. I also didn't have any luck finding blue salvia, or red cardinal flower, either. Unfortunately, not many places carry wildflowers.

[@growitbuildit]

You have got to start growing your own plants from seed! That is the solution. You will actually save some $ doing so. I purchase seed from a variety of sources, or collect it from the wild (my preferred method). But Asters are wonderful flowers, but aren't for everyone. They can get a bit unwieldy and wild in 'manicured' gardens. But in wild areas, they are excellent. They really produce a lot of nectar. I strongly suspect that the true native species produce more nectar and pollen then some of the store bought varieties. And Turtlehead is pretty easy to grow from seed, as is Cardinal flower. Send me an email, I'll see if I can help you out.

[@bryanprindiville503]

Hello everyone. This my first time plant a jacob cline bee balm and I live in zone 10b. I m going to plant it in a flower pot 21 by 18 . Any help please.

[@nashvlbees]

It's New Years Day! It's cold outside! I'm watching Bowl games but would rather be in the garden. Thanks for this great video! Now I'm excited about spring and am looking for my seed catalogs! Won't be long until I start seeds indoors!

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you for the kind words - and I agree! It's cold and wet here, good day for all the bowls.

[@anndennis7163]

you probably know this already but the lavender flowered Bee balm is just as great. I use both for tea.

[@growitbuildit]

Do you mean Wild Bergamot, (Monarda fistulosa)?

[@anndennis7163]

@@growitbuildit yes, lol I watched your video on Monarda fistulosa right after this one. It grows crazy wild here in SW Wisconsin.

[@V13-u1c]

Fantastic video!!! Awesome videography. (If that's a word) Thank you. The ending was just precious~Nature rocks!

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you! This is one of the most exotic natives you can grow. And it was really fun to shoot.

[@renovclean2]

The information you provided on this video was exceptional. Thank you so much for making this video!

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you!

[@sislertx]

I just started growing this...havent tried it.as a.cut plant..love the bees who cover this the blooms too much to take one away

[@jess6512]

I just planted some this year can’t wait to see what they do next. Do you plant zinna’s? I planted some this year from seed and they just keep blooming like crazy. I have seen all sorts of pollinators on them. I’m hoping they seed enough so they come back on their own next year. I

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Jessica - I haven't done much with zinnias. But I know how much pollinators love them. I mostly try to keep natives growing. You're going to love your Bed Balm. The blooms are exquisite and really bring in hummingbirds!

[@qattah]

The light purple flowers might be wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa.) Great video.

[@growitbuildit]

It could be, but I am just not sure. I grow both of those species, and the blooming often overlaps

[@SoBayK80]

Yes, this is the seed I have come here to learn about, but after learning about Bee Balm that one is next 🤩👍🏼

[@elizabethbarkley2521]

This is a wonderful video. It is not only informative as well as beautiful to watch. Excellent Joe!

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you Elizabeth! I'm very happy you enjoyed and found it helpful!

[@feltig]

I have so many questions for you-U are more clear than my local arboretum. 1. I sit on 2.5 lots in an urban setting. I have added 5 native gardens over the last 2 years, but I want to utilize much more of the property, but don’t physically can’t remove the grass. Do you have suggestions? 2. Were the solid yellow flowers a prairie coreopsis? And 3. How do you keep everything standing upright without stakes; mine flop over and require stakes for even coneflowers, goldenrod, and asters. Plz help this zone 5B Nebraskan!!!!

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Brenda - I'll try to answer your questions in order . 1 - For removing grass with the least amount of effort, there is one option that come to mind for me. The first is putting down cardboard, watering, then covering with mulch. I have a video that gives a good overview on it here - kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZzWeHqidsRlf6M There is another method called solarization that doesn't require much labor. However, that will take a whole season to complete. So, if you want to get something read for the Spring, the cardboard method is your best bet. But these are the two 'easy' ways I know of that don't require herbicide. 2 - There are a few yellow flowers in the video. I'm guessing the one you are talking about is Lanceleaf Coreopsis. I have done a detailed video on that. It is here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZ7IZGimoq2IndU We do have a detailed write up of each yellow flower in the video at our website, here growitbuildit.com/lanceleaf-coreopsis-grow-care-guide-lanceolata/ growitbuildit.com/black-eyed-susan-rudbeckia-hirta/ growitbuildit.com/plains-coreopsis-grow-care-guide-coreopsis-tinctoria/ Each of those yellow flowers 'play nice' together, and bloom a long time. 3 - As far as keeping things standing tall, that will be the subject for a future video, as I believe that I have solved the riddle. But in general, keep the plant exposed to the sun from all directions, or as many as possible. Also let the plant be exposed to the wind as much as possible. If you put flowers against a house, or any barrier, they will grow towards the sun, and not get enough wind. They like to grow 'towards the sun', and the wind blowing the stalks is kind of like strength training for stalks. Also - if you are doing natives, do not fertilize them. I don't fertilize anything except for a handful of compost when I first transplant a seedling. Now, if you have your plants right against a house, or not exposed to all three sun directions (East, South, West) you can do one other strategy. I've personally done it with Coreopsis and Asters. What you do is give them a 'haircut' before they bloom. Just cut the flowering stalks down by 1/3-1/2. From where you cut, the stalk will start branching. And the final height will be shorter than otherwise, but the shorter height results in less 'torque' or leverage on the stalk. That means it will stay upright better. It will still bloom plenty too. Wow - this was a big reply. I'll tell you what - go to our site (growitbuildit.com), and at the very bottom of the page there is a contact button. You can send us an email via that, and we can continue the conversation or answer further questions if you like.

[@Cathy_MidwestHome_Hens]

I have a patch if this plant approx 2’x3’ wide and I counted about 14 bumblebees and two tiger swallowtail on it yesterday 😊

[@Kate98755]

this is my first year for this, i love it. I'd like to split and move some of it to another area, can i move it now in july? Mine were already going to seed, but it's been late August super heat..so maybe that's why. It was in sun some shade.

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Kate - if the seed head is dry / dormant, then it should be ok. Otherwise just wait until early Spring. When I divide plants in April, they tend to bloom in July.

[@bubblesmckenzie4125]

I have one or two hummingbirds around my monarda, have alot of bumblebees on them mostly.

[@growitbuildit]

I rarely get bumblebees on these flowers. It is almost all Hummingbirds. But there are numerous varieties of this species!

[@jeanneross4315]

I am near Philadelphia nd just took put some Bee Balm in clay pots. All look great. My question is will they survive winter in the pots?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Jeanne - I have had them survive in pots (I'm in South Central PA). But, if you want to be totally safe, over-winter them in an unheated garage or shed.

[@DawnRaeB]

Thank you for this! I found one bee balm plant at the store this year and had hoped to grow several. So I'm on here searching for ways to propagate it and etc. I was worried that it wouldn't over-winter but since it's related to the mint.. I won't have a problem with that at all! Haha. I learned quite a bit from this video and I'm off to watch the seed-saving video.

[@growitbuildit]

Excellent Dawn - glad you liked it. I hope you manage to save a few seeds, or just propagate via division in the Spring. Either way, it is a wonderful plant.

[@lesw3803]

What a beautiful prairie garden! What are the tall white flowering plants? What is your spacing for your bee balm?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Les- the tall white flower is actually just fleabane daisy. I let them grow back there as they are native, and do look nice when they get large. For spacing, 2'-3' is the recommended. And that is what I did in my 'formal' flower bed. I planted them in pots buried in the ground, that were also lined with landscape fabric. I only had a single escaped stalk this year for Bee Balm. If you are planting Beebalm in a wild setting, spacing doesn't mean much, as it will go where it can! I've got it everywhere back in the prairie now.

[@Queenie-the-genie]

What does it look like when it first begins growing in the spring? thankyou1

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - I have a picture when it is emerging, or young in the season here - growitbuildit.com/identify-emerging-native-plants/

[@fancygirl822]

I live in zone 8b Texas and I have planted the lavender bee balm for years and the 🦋, 🐝and hummingbirds love it but I have the same issue every year with it get tall and always wanted to bend/fall over so I end up staking it ,I even tried planting along side fence but still falls over so I tie it to the fence. Planted in full sun and no problem with blooming but I loose alot of the plant because it eventually breaks because of bending over no matter the stake. Am I maybe not planting them deep enough? Alot come back every year and I add a few each year for the ones that don't make it .

[@growitbuildit]

If it's monarda fistulosa, that one can flop over if it has fertile, black, loamy soil. Or if you fertilize any native plant, they can often get too tall.

[@kimberlyfake9127]

I just planted some bee balm for the first time in June. They were blooming when I bought them but now they are not after I dead headed the spent blooms. I am very new to planting perennials. I live in south central PA. I planted them in a spot where it is partial shade in the morning and then full sun in the afternoon. They are not thriving. Some of the leaves have brown spots. How often should I water them and is there a special fertilizer that they need? The roots were very tightly bound in the pot when I went to plant them. Should these plants bloom all summer? Any advice to get them thriving again would be appreciated.

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Kimberly - deadheading Bee Balm usually doesn't produce much in the way of extra blooming. I've done it, and only had a few tiny small blooms. The plant likes moist soil, or medium-moist. They do not like to be dry. Regarding brown spots, does it seem like a fungus? Or is it crispy like it was burnt? In general Bee balm looks nice early in the season, then when it's blooming period finishes it loses some of it's 'luster'.

[@shayg874]

I just bought the Panorama blend Bee Balm . If I start this In August zone 7-7A .. what do I do with them for the winter ?? love your presentation thank you I will be following.

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - if you bought plants, just plant them where you want them. They will become established before winter and just pop back up in Spring. I plant perennials into November in zone 6

[@shayg874]

I was going to start them now from seeds I figured where I am I have at least 2.5 months to start them they will be small. but was thinking if I kept them in pots and maybe put them in my UN heated greenhouse maybe I would have a chance with them.

[@jessicariedl2257]

I must have waited too long to harvest seeds, hardly getting any! Collected a ton early this summer from my Bradbury monarda.

[@growitbuildit]

You may not have waited too long. Saving seeds from Monarda didyma is just tough. See this video for the details - kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5rIkHmqm66Hi6c

[@gogr2409]

Last year I planted my first Monarda. They did well at first but then turned scraggly and floppy. Did I over fertilize? They are in full sun zone 6b

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - when they flop it is usually because of too much nitrogen or soil that is very, very rich. They get taller than normal and flop. You can also do the Chelsea Chop to them when they reach about 3' tall to help control their height. Once done the overall plant will be a bit shorter. growitbuildit.com/the-chelsea-chop/

[@rogercooper6032]

What can you do to the soil to improve the quality of the soil. We bought the Monarda Scarlet and it grew well. We downsized our garden from 3000 square feet to about 100 square feet. We transplanted the Monarda Scarlet to our new location and they came back purple. Why? We didn't buy any other plants--we simply transplanted what we had to a new spot. Did we do something wrong?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Roger - the bloom color may be a product of the soil conditions. You could probably do a soil test via your local ag extension office to determine if there is any nutrients that are out of balance. But I don't think you did anything wrong, and I would wait to amend anything until I got a soil test....or just wait to see if it fixes itself next year.

[@taconesylunares777]

Hi, I live in South Florida, will this grow in my area? I have a small garden with some shade

[@growitbuildit]

HI - it will depend where you are at in Florida. It is hardy to zone 9, which is roughly Tampa Bay area.

[@thatcherschiller7252]

I often simply pull up some monarda with the roots attached and Plant it directly in the soil and it will grow I wonder if I plant stalks without roots if they’d grow also plant it directly 14:10 into the ground But if I plant stalks without any roots attached is there the possibility that they also will grow?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - I have not tried rooting them. But if they were in a shady, moist spot in cooler temps it might work.

[@alangugino3255]

Excellent video! Very thorough and very interesting. This is the first video from your channel. I'm looking forward to watching your others. Great content and your interesting to listen to. You seem very knowledgeable and experienced. I'd like to hear a little bit about your background. Thanks very much!

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Alan - My first job was working in a garden center back in high school. But since 2012 I started getting into Native Plants. I was out hiking in Shenandoah and came around a bend to find hundreds of Swallowtail butterflies. They were landing on me, and all around. You almost felt like some angel descended from heaven. I decided that I wanted to try to create that at home. *Side note - the closest I've come to recreating that day in Shenandoah was with the Cup Plant. It's ridiculous how many pollinators that thing attracts. I started my first Native garden in 2012 (after Shenandoah), and have been doing it since. 2012/2013 was also the first year I winter-sowed seeds. From there I just expand my knowledge by reading, observing, and testing different species, etc. How plants live, work and reproduce is fascinating and fun to watch. Seeing how the entire ecosystem interacts, with plants as the hub is amazing as well. I do have some more written at our website growitbuildit.com in our 'about us' section if you want to see more.

[@sherylporter6936]

@growitbuildit my bee balm is not growing vertically, rather low and vine-like. I’ve confirmed it is bee balm. Should I cut it back?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Sheryl - If it isn't growing vertically it makes me think of one of several options. It could be that the soil very rich, was heavily fertilized, or is just trying to find the sun. Fertilizer can sometimes make plants 'leggy' and prone to tipping over on the ground.

[@karenb6771]

I have the red Bee Balm and one of the flowers has a second flower growing straight out of the top of the first flower. Is this common? The rest are all normal.

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Karen - it happens from time to time. I'm pretty sure I had one that you could see in this video.

[@missygilly9917]

My red bee balm gets mildew every year, so I deadhead them. They flush out again. Hummingbirds leave late summer here, but the butterflies are still here at that time. Did I read that you leave up until Spring? I usually clean up in Spring, but do cut my bee balm back. Should I leave them alone?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - You can leave the stalks up all winter. Sometimes bees will lay eggs in them. In Spring, it doesn't take long for the stalks to naturally fall down on their side, where they can sit until bees hatch/emerge. I just let it slowly turn into a form of natural mulch.

[@vickimiracle5077]

If your plant has powdery mildew this year does it mean it will get it every year? I think it was crowded this year and maybe to much rain. I live in WV I think in zone 6.... northern panhandle. Thanks in advance for the help

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - I'm pretty sure the spores for powdery mildew are ubiquitous, they are just everywhere. So it doesn't necessarily mean it will get it every year. But it is quite common with this plant (and other Monarda species).

[@rogehnimunoz4327]

Excellent video for bee balms. Appreciate it.

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome Rogehni! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@dawienatral7083]

lovely Yard. well done,does all Monarda get powdery mildew?

[@growitbuildit]

M. didyma and M. fistulosa definitely do. M. punctata doesn't seem to get it, at least I don't notice it. There are a few other Monarda species I'm trying now, but haven't grown them long enough to check if they get it or not.

[@serenababy6358]

Hello from Western CO! This is my 1st season growing Monarda. I have it planted in full sun. I'm working on amending the clay soil so it drains better. I water 1x per day since I planted it mid July and it's hot. I haven't seen the flower stems grow tall. It's still compact and mounded shape with blooms. How long does it take for the flowers to grow long stems? Thank you, this video was helpful

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Serena - you may just have to have patience until next year. These are perennial, and there is a saying that the first year they 'sleep', the second year they creep, and the third year they leap. I'm guessing since you bought an already-blooming plant that it is in the 'creep' phase.

[@Moondancer_15]

Hey thanks for the info! Just planted two of these in my small garden bed and don't really want them to spread everywhere but didn't realize they did so by rhizome. Will the rhizomes be able to come up through the landscape fabric I have down? Will that control it?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Shelia, I think the landscape fabric will most likely prevent it from spreading underground. However, it will likely spread right on top of the landscape fabric, in between the fabric and mulch (It did to my property, as I inherited this plant originally).

[@leannatimmerman9922]

I started some monarda from seed this year in GA. Went into the ground in late April. Can I expect blooms this year? Thanks for this helpful video.

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Leann - you probably won't get blooms until year two.

[@davida3591]

Just a heads up, I'm fairly certain the lavender-colored Monarda at 4:30 is actually Monarda fistulosa, aka Wild Bergamot

[@growitbuildit]

It's possible that it could be an early-blooming variety of fistulosa. But I have several large Bergamot plants that all bloomed starting at the tail-end of Monarda didyma. Also, that area is where I first grew these from seed - and it was all supposed to be dark red or Oswego Tea. It turned out to be pink, purple, or magenta in color. But it could very well be just an early blooming Bergamot. It certainly looks right.

[@rachelcondo8183]

Mine came in big clums.....should I have broke them apart before I planted them?

[@growitbuildit]

You could have done that, but it is ok to not do so. Just wait until Spring and you can divide away.

[@whistleblower1826]

Loving your garden. I'm in year 3 of making my English garden... In Michigan. Anyways, have you ever planted Shasta daisies? And if so, can you give me some tips on it. I can't seem to get them to germinate well.

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - I am sorry, but I've never tried growing Shasta daisies. I've seen them plenty of times in the wild, but never tried growing them myself.

[@gregmansker6176]

I'm in western MO and have some wild Monarda growing in some common ground. Is there a big difference between that and the one you feature in the video. Would like to have some thicker clumps, think I need to clean out the grasses growing around the base of the plant.

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Greg, there are actually about 8 different species of the Monarda genus present in Missouri. If it looks very similar to mine, then it is probably the same species.

[@stellabost9660]

Can monad be cut back to ground at end of growing season and winter over in pots?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi again - yes, I think you could do that depending on where you live. For a bit of direct experience, I'm in zone 6 and the plant you saw me germinate in this video? I did that very late in the season, like September. I put it in a 6" dia x tall pot and left it outside all Winter and it survived. I don't know if there is a lower limit to how cold they can take (probably based on their hardiness zone), but that one, immature seedlings survived all Winter.

[@stellabost9660]

Tell us about potting and using as a patio pot plant

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Stella - you just need a decent sized pot with drainage, and plant it. The shallow roots make it that it doesn't need much depth, but will like more surface area, so a wide pot. The stalks will go dormant, and need to be cut back in a container to keep looking nice.

[@Da_GrandiMan]

Great Vud, Do milkweed and bee balm coexist, peacefuly, in a garden row (both having rhizomes) ? How far apart should I plant them, too ?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - in my experience, they don't coexist that well unless it is a part-shade situation. You almost never see them growing side by side in the wild. Beebalm likes afternoon shade and moist soils, while Common Milkweed (Ascelpias syrica) likes hot full sun situations. But there is a milkweed that would do great mixed with this Red Bee Balm, and they would coexist pretty well - Swamp Milkweed. See here - kzbin.info/www/bejne/rYnJYaOVj72DbaM

[@Da_GrandiMan]

@@growitbuildit Thx, Glad I asked ! I will check my milkweed (bare root and yonng plants) for that variety. Thx again !

[@alya4064]

Hi, how many bee balm flowers do you need to show! I live in a hot area, is the flower can withstand high temperatures?!

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Alya - it is hardy to zone 9, which is like the Gulf Coast of the USA. Just look up what hardiness zone you are in and compare.

[@juliemoreno]

Great video! How does this plant do in raised beds or containers ?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Julie - It can grow well in a container or raised bed. It just needs space, so large diameter containers are better.

[@laurar5697]

Thank you for your video. My plant grew to a tall height in the spring and them some of the stems ended up breaking off. Should I have pruned the plant in the spring or do you suggest stalking the plants to eliminate this problem? Suggestions?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Laura - there are a few common reasons this happens. One is that if you fertilize native plants, they can grow very tall but flop. Other reasons can be if the plant is shaded from one direction, it sometimes will grow to the opposite direction like it is reaching for the sun. And finally, if it doesn't get exposed to much wind the stalk will be weaker, and more susceptible to flopping/breaking in a large storm. But trimming the plant in early Spring, before it blooms could probably solve the problem. It should start branching and grow to an overall lower height.

[@lorrainezillmer3095]

I’ve had bee balm for 5 years this year it’s not growing as well.. now the the leaves are turning brown.. I live in southern Wisconsin just starting to grow.. does it need more water or what

[@growitbuildit]

Has it been dry? Or has the growing conditions/sunlight changed? Brown crispy leaves usually mean sun scorch