What does bee balm look like when it blooms?
The bee balm flower has an open, daisy-like shape, with tubular petals in shades of red, pink, purple, and white. Bee balm plants are perennial, coming back year after year to add cheerful color to your garden.
Does bee balm have flowers?
Interestingly enough, they’re also considered herbs—bee balm is actually part of the mint family, boasting aromatic leaves and many culinary and medicinal uses. Best planted in the spring or fall, bee balm plants will produce clusters of scarlet, pink, or purple tubular flowers in mid to late summer.
What month does bee balm bloom?
July
Bee balm (Monarda) begin to bloom in July and will continue to bloom throughout late summer. To encourage bountiful clusters of flowers, you will want to deadhead the plant throughout its entire bloom time. As the flowers begin to wilt and fade, cut just above the next flower bud.
What is scarlet bee balm good for?
Today, bee balm is still used as an herbal remedy for a variety of ailments. As a member of the mint family, when bee balm is used in teas, it can help with digestive issues, bloating, sore throats, and nausea. Bee balm is a natural antiseptic and applied topically, can help with bee stings, rashes, and minor wounds.
How long does bee balm take to flower?
110-120 days
Quick Reference Growing Guide
| Plant Type: | Herbaceous perennial | Red, pink, light to dark purple |
|---|---|---|
| Bloom Time / Season: | Summer | Average |
| Exposure: | Full sun to partial shade | 6.0-7.0 |
| Time to Maturity: | 110-120 days | Well-draining |
| Spacing: | 18-24 inches | Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds |
Why is my bee balm not flowering?
Reasons Bee Balm Doesn’t Bloom The most common problem is a lack of sun. Bee balm thrives in full sun, and most varieties need 6 to 8 hours of sunlight per day in order to bloom well. Another common problem with bee balm is improper water or humidity.
How do you get bee balm to bloom?
Bee balm thrives in full sun, and most varieties need 6 to 8 hours of sunlight per day in order to bloom well. Bee balm that doesn’t get enough sunlight is also often leggy looking. If your bee balm is showing both of these symptoms, try relocating it to a sunnier spot.
How long do bee balm flowers last?
A low-maintenance perennial, bee balm has a long blooming period, giving your garden up to 8 weeks of colour in the summer and early fall. The bee balm plant is treasured for attracting beneficial bees as well as other pollinators including butterflies and hummingbirds who come to feast on its nectar.
What do you do with bee balm after it blooms?
As your flowers start to fade, you should deadhead bee balm just above the next flower bud to encourage further flowering. Once a stem has finished flowering, trim it back down to the ground or pinch it off. This will encourage the plant to send up another blossoming stem.
How do you use bee balm flowers?
Fresh bee balm leaves can be added to pesto, and the flower petals make a pretty and aromatic garnish. They can be used in salads, to make an herbal butter, or in homemade ice cream or a cream cheese spread. Bee balm petals are also a lovely way to dress up fresh fruit or a fruit salad like this one.
Does bee balm bloom first year?
HARVEST: Starting the first year, leaves may be harvested. More leaves may be harvested each year as plant size increases. Bee Balm does not usually flower until the second year. Mature plants, 3-4 years old, can be divided to make new plants.
How tall does bee balm get?
Bee balm grows 2 to 4 feet tall and 1 1/2 to 3 feet wide. When young plants or new spring growth reaches 1 foot tall, cut the plant back to 6 inches tall.
Do you cut back bee balm?
Work some compost or manure into the top of the soil. Plant the bee balm seeds 2 to 3 inches deep and water them well. After the seedlings sprout, cut back on water; bee balm should be kept moist but not soggy. Gather bee balm for cut flowers, or snip the blooms for garnish as often as you like.
What do you need to know about the bee balm plant?
Native Americans and early colonists used bee balm leaves and flowers to make a variety of medicinal salves and drinks.
What does a bee balm seed look like?
Similar to bee balm, New York aster (Aster dumosus) is a perennial flower with a clumping growth habit. The daisy-like flowers are blue to lilac with yellow centers to grow on upright clusters. Growing 1 to 2 inches wide, the flowerheads sit atop the tall stems.
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