ExplorePlants

Bee Balm

Monarda didyma

Bee Balm is a vibrant flower that attracts bees and butterflies with its sweet nectar. Its bright red blooms add color to gardens and meadows, making it a favorite among pollinators.

Habitat: Gardens, Meadows

Appearance

The Bee Balm has vibrant, shaggy flower heads made of many tubular petals, often appearing in shades of red, pink, or purple. Its unique blossoms sit atop square stems, distinctively different from many other garden flowers. The leaves are pointed and slightly toothed.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderLamialesFamilyLamiaceaeGenusMonarda
Bee Balm
spring_blooming trait badgefragrant_flower trait badgemedicinal trait badgepollinator_magnet trait badge
Bee Balm

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

2/5 · Low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Bee Balm is a mint family plant, easily identified by its square stems!

Deer usually avoid eating this plant because of its strong, aromatic scent!

Its scientific name, Monarda, honors a Spanish botanist from the 1500s!

The 'flower' is actually a cluster of many tiny, tube-shaped individual flowers!

Special abilities

Ability

Nectar Beacon

Bee Balm has bright, tubular flowers packed with nectar that act like a giant beacon, signaling hungry hummingbirds and bees to a delicious meal.

Ability

Spicy Shield

Bee Balm leaves contain aromatic oils, giving it a spicy scent that helps deter some hungry deer and other plant-eating critters from munching on them.

Ability

Root Spreader

Bee Balm can spread underground using rhizomes, allowing it to quickly form dense colonies and compete successfully with other plants in its habitat.

Measurements & details

Height
60-150 cm
Spread
60-90 cm
Flower Size
2-4 cm
Bloom Season
Summer
Edible
Yes
Toxicity
None
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Common Eastern Bumble Bee

Bombus impatiens

Gathers nectar and pollen from the flowers.

pollinates

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Archilochus colubris

Sips nectar using its long beak.

pollinates

European Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

Collects nectar and some pollen.

eaten by

Two-spotted spider mite

Tetranychus urticae

Feeds on Bee Balm leaves.

Traits

Also known as

Bee Balm MintBergamotOswego Tea

Collections

Safety

Danger

2/5 · Low

Enjoy the beauty of Bee Balm from a safe distance and avoid touching or ingesting any part of the plant.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is Bee Balm?

60-150 cm

How wide does Bee Balm spread?

60-90 cm

How big are the flowers on Bee Balm?

2-4 cm

When does Bee Balm bloom?

Summer

Is Bee Balm edible?

Yes

Is Bee Balm toxic?

None

What is Bee Balm's lifecycle?

Perennial

How is Bee Balm pollinated?

Insect

Snap Map

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