(Monarda didyma 'Scarlet')
Scarlet Bee Balm is a native annual herb that is commonly found growing in moist woods, and along streams and rivers throughout the eastern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 24-48” and features square like stems, 3-6” lance shaped, medium green leaves, and globular clusters of two-lipped aromatic flowers that are scarlet red. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and pollinating moths, is resistant to deer and rabbit, is both edible and medicinal, and is great as a cut flower!
Genus: Monarda
Species: didyma
Variety: Scarlet
Also Known As: Oswego Tea, Firecracker Plant, Scarlet Monarda, Crimson Beebalm.
Native to: Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia.
Introduced into: Austria, Central European Rus, Illinois.
Ease of Growing: Easy
Grown as: Perennial
Habitat: It can often be found along stream banks, thickets, road edges and at the borders to woodland openings.
Maturity (Blooms): July to August
Light: Full sun to partial shade. It preforms best in full sunlight but is very adaptable to partial shade conditions.
Soil Moisture: Wet to Medium. Scarlet beebalm prefers moist but well drained soils. Although it can tolerate drought, scarlet beebalm performs better with adequate soil moisture.
Growing Conditions: It grows best in a moist, rich loamy soil with high organic matter content but can tolerate almost any well-drained soil. Scarlet beebalm prefers a pH in the 6.0 – 7.0 range.
Attracts Beneficial Insects: Yes. Scarlet beebalm is an important plant for pollinators including hummingbirds, butterflies and, to a lesser extent, moths, bees and other pollinating insects. Because of the structure of the flower tubes, long proboscises are needed to be able to reach the nectar.
Height: 24-48”
Spacing: 12-24”
USDA Zone: 4a-9b.
Produces: square like stems, 3-6” lance shaped, medium green leaves, and globular clusters of two-lipped aromatic flowers that are scarlet red.
Garden Uses: Butterfly magnet for border fronts. Provides color and contrast for the perennial border, cottage garden, wild garden, native plant garden, meadow, herb garden, naturalized planting or along ponds or streams. Good plant for butterfly gardens and bird gardens.
Companion Planting
Bee balm attracts hummingbirds with its red and pink blossoms and its tubular flowers that are naturally suited for a hummingbird's long beak. Other similar flowers include Western columbine (Aquilegia formosa), with red and yellow flowers, or silver sage (Salvia argentea), with white flowers tinged with red. Both companions also thrive in full sun or partial shade in USDA plant hardiness zones 5b through 10b.
Herbs:
As a member of the mint family, bee balm leaves have a minty smell and make a pleasant, herbal tea. Bee balm adds color and height to an herb garden and should be planted near the center of the garden surrounded by your preference of shorter herbs grown as annuals, such as basil, thyme, chives and parsley. Add a perennial herb such as rosemary in USDA plant hardiness zones 7a through 11 for year-round interest in the garden bed.
Colors:
Also grown in full sun in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 through 11, bright yellow daylilies would work well planted in the same garden bed with the warm colors of bee balm. For a contrasting accent, midnight blue agapanthus (Agapanthus x "Monmid") adds the cool-blue color in USDA plant hardiness zones 7b through 11.
Shapes:
As a 6- to 8-inch ground cover growing around the base of bee balm, the light green leaves and multiple flowers of dwarf annual phlox (Phlox drummondii) thrive in USDA plant hardiness zones 5a through 11 and come in a variety of colors. The blue-gray leaves of the perennial blue oat grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens) contrast nicely in both shape and color with bee balm. Blue oat grass thrives in USDA plant hardiness zones 5b through 10b.
Problems
Suggested Varieties
(Xerochrysum bracteatum ‘Strawflower’)
Strawflower is a tender perennial flower that is native to Australia but can be commonly found growing in the northeastern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 2-3' and features 5” lance-shaped grayish-green leaves and 1-3” daisy-like flowers that have a yellow center disks which are surrounded by orange, red, yellow, pink, or white bracts. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and ladybugs, tolerates drought, self sows, and is great as a cut flower!
(Penstemon Hartwegii ‘Scarlet Queen’)
Scarlet Queen Penstemon is a short-lived perennial flower that is native to Mexico but can be commonly found growing in open deserts and moist forests throughout the southern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 36” and features hairy upright stems, narrow lance-shaped green leaves, and tubular white two-lipped flowers that have scarlet red edgings. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, tolerates drought, is resistant to deer, and is great as a cut flower!
(Impatiens balsamina 'Camilia Mix')
Camilia Balsam is a sun loving tender annual flower that is native to India and southeast Asia but can commonly be found growing in the northeastern United States. Growing to the height of 30” tall, this plant features lance shaped leaves and small clusters of 2” cup shaped red, pink, and white colored flowers. This plant can be grown in containers, it attracts bees, butterflies, and humming birds, is resistant to drought, great as a cut flower, and best of all, it self sows!
(P. somniferum var. paeoniflorum ‘Red’)
Red Peony Poppy is an annual flower that is native to the Mediterranean region but can be found growing throughout the northeastern and southwestern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 2-3' and features blue-green foliage and large 4” rose like red flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, birds, and butterflies, self sows, and is great as a cut flower.
(Eschscholzia californica ‘Red Chief’)
Red Chief California Poppy is a native cool weather short-lived perennial flower that can be commonly found growing in open areas, hillsides, and along roads throughout the western United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 12-16” and features bluish green fern-like leaves and 3” 4 petal cup-shaped crimson flowers that have a yellow center. This plant attracts bees and butterflies, is resistant to deer, tolerates drought, is both edible and medicinal, self sows, and is great as a cut flower!
(Mirabilis jalapa ‘Red’)
(Aquilegia canadensis ‘Wild’)
Wild Columbine is a native perennial flower that can be commonly found growing in rocky woods, ledges, and slopes throughout the mid to eastern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 2' and features 1-2” red and yellow, drooping bell-shaped blooms. This plant can be grown in a container, it attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and pollinating moths, it resists deer and rabbits, self sows, and is great as a cut flower!
(Zinnia elegans ‘Cherry Queen’)
Cherry Queen Zinnia is an annual flower that is native to Mexico but can be found growing in the southern and eastern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 2-3' and features hairy upright branching stems, 5” lance-shaped green leaves, and 4-5” bright red dahlia-type flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, earwigs, and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer, tolerates drought, self sows, and is great as a cut flower!
(Achillea millefolium 'Rubra')
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Red Yarrow is a native mat-forming perennial that can be commonly found growing along roadways and in fields and lawns throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 1-2' and features erect stems, medium green fern-like foliage, and clusters of red flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, hoverflies, ladybugs, and predatory wasps, is rabbit safe, repels beetles, and flies, the leaves are burned to repel mosquitoes, is used as a compost activator, tolerates drought, is used to make cosmetic cleansers, dye, essential oil, and liquid plant food, self sows, is both edible and medicinal, and is great as a cut flower!
(Trifolium incarnatum ‘Crimson’)
Crimson Clover is an annual flower that is native to Europe, but can be found growing across the U.S. in nearly every state. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 1-3' and features hairy rosette unbranched stems, 1/2-1” heart shaped leaflets, and 1-2 1/2” cylindrical flower heads that bare ½ vibrant red florets. This plant can be grown in a container, it attracts bees and butterflies, is both drought and frost tolerant, and provides forage to livestock!
(Salvia coccinea 'Scarlet')
Scarlet Sage is a native perennial herb that can be commonly found growing in sandy areas of forests throughout the southern United States but is also grown as an annual in northern gardens. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 12-24” and features tall racemes, 2” oval shaped, toothed, green leaves, and tubular, two-lipped, scarlet red flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, provides bird forage, is resistant to deer and rabbit, tolerates drought, self sows, and is great as a cut flower!
(Ocimum basilicum ‘Purple Ruffles’)
Purple Ruffles Basil is a native annual herb that can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 18-24” and features ruffled, dark purple leaves, maroon stems, and spikes of bright fuchsia flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees and butterflies, is rabbit safe, repels flies, mosquitoes, and thrips, is resistant to deer, is used to make essential oils and mosquito repellent, is both edible and medicinal, and is great as a cut flower!
(Ocimum basilicum ‘Sweet’)
Sweet Basil is an annual herb that is native to India and Asia but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 24-30” and features medium green leaves and spikes of white or pale pink flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees and butterflies, is rabbit safe, repels flies, mosquitoes, and thrips, is resistant to deer, is used to make essential oils and mosquito repellent, is both edible and medicinal, and is great as a cut flower!
(Ocimum basilicum ‘Lemon’)
(Ocimum basilicum 'Clove Scented')
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Clove Scented Basil is an annual herb that is native to India and Asia but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 18-24” and features clove-scented green leaves and clusters of tiny white flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees and butterflies, is rabbit safe, repels flies, mosquitoes, and thrips, is resistant to deer, is used to make essential oils and mosquito repellent, is both edible and medicinal, and is great as a cut flower!
(Ocimum basilicum ‘Italian Large Leaf’)
(Ocimum basilicum ‘Spicy Globe’)
Spicy Globe Basil is an annual herb that is native to India and Asia but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 8-14” and features 1/4-1" light green leaves and white flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees and butterflies, is rabbit safe, repels flies, mosquitoes, and thrips, is resistant to deer, is used to make essential oils and mosquito repellent, is both edible and medicinal, and is great as a cut flower!
(Thymus vulgaris 'Common')
Common Thyme is a woody-based, upright perennial herb that is native to southern Europe but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 12-18” and features a foliage mound of upward growing woody stems, tiny, oval-shaped, grayish-green, aromatic leaves, and small, tubular, light pink flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, birds, and butterflies, repels moths, tolerates deer and drought, flavors perfumes, shampoos, and toothpastes, makes essential oils, mouthwash, and potpourri, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Thymus serpyllum 'Creeping')
Creeping Thyme is a woody-based, creeping perennial herb that is native to Europe but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 3-6” and features a 12-18” wide foliage mat of rooting stems, 1/4” oval-shaped, blueish-green leaves, and small, tubular, two-lipped, bell-shaped dark pink/purple flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, birds, and butterflies, repels moths, tolerates deer, drought, and light frost, flavors perfumes and soaps, makes essential oils and fungicide, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Allium tuberosum ‘Garlic')
Garlic Chive is a clump-forming annual herb that is native to Asia but can be found growing throughout the Midwest, and along the southern and eastern coasts of the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 10-18" and features 12” tapering, soft textured, cylindrical leaves, leafless stems, and 2” violet scented, star-shaped, white flowers that have brown striped tepals. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, and ladybugs, repels aphids, carrot fly, Japanese beetles, and moles, is resistant to deer, tolerates drought and frost, is used to make fungicides and insecticides, is both edible and medicinal, and self sows!
(Allium schoenoprasum ‘Onion')
Onion Chive is a native clump-forming perennial herb that can be found growing throughout the northern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 20” and features 12” dark green grassy-like leaves and 16” stems that are topped with aromatic pale purple clover-like flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, ladybugs, and pollinating moths, repels aphids, carrot fly, Japanese beetles, and moles, is resistant to deer, tolerates drought and frost, is used to make fungicides and insecticides, is both edible and medicinal, and self sows!
(Petroselinum crispum 'Italian Giant')
Italian Giant Parsley is a heirloom, hardy, cool weather biennial vegetable that is native to the Mediterranean region, but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 18-16” and features flat, dark, glossy green leaves. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts hoverflies, predatory wasps, and tachinid flies, is rabbit safe, tolerates light frost, is used to flavor perfumes and repel insects, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Salvia rosmarinus 'Rosemary')
Rosemary is a perennial evergreen shrub that is native to southern Europe, the Mediterranean, and northern Africa but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 3-4' and features aromatic, greenish-gray, aromatic leaves, and pale blue to white two lipped flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees and butterflies, repels bean beetles, cabbage moths, and carrot flies, is rabbit safe, is resistant to deer, tolerates drought, is used to flavor perfumes, is used to make dyes, essential oils, shampoo, and is both edible and medicinal.
(Campanula medium ‘Blue’)
Blue Canterbury Bells is a biennial flower that is native to Italy and France that is commonly found growing in shady areas of moist woods and meadows, and along streams and ditches in the northwestern and northeastern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 3' and features long, loose clusters of long lasting bell-shaped blue flowers. This plant is perfect for cut flowers, attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer, makes dyes, and is also edible!
(Ipomoea coccinea ‘Heavenly Blue’)
Heavenly Blue Morning Glory is a warm weather annual flowering vine that is native to Mexico but can be found growing throughout the central and eastern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 6-9' and features a fast-growing vine with heart-shaped dark green leaves, and 4-5" bright sky-blue blooms with lovely white centers. This plant can be grown in containers or hanging baskets, attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, has medicinal properties, and self sows!
(Ipomoea nil ‘Picotee Blue’)
Picotee Blue Morning Glory is a warm weather annual flowering vine that is native to Mexico and South American but can be found growing throughout the southern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 6-9' and features a fast-growing vine with heart-shaped dark green leaves, and dramatic 6" blue blooms with bright white edging a purple star inside. This plant can be grown in containers or hanging baskets, attracts bees, butterflies, hoverflies, and hummingbirds, has medicinal properties, and self sows!
(Salvia Pratensis 'Meadow')
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Meadow Sage is a clump-forming perennial herb that is native to Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia but can be commonly found growing throughout the northeastern and northwestern United States. At maturity this plant reaches the height of 36” and features upright racemes, 3” aromatic, grayish-green foliage, and clusters of two-lipped lavender-blue flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer and rabbits, tolerates drought, is edible, self sows, and is great as a cut flower!
(Centaurea cyanus ‘Dwarf Blue’)
Dwarf Blue Cornflower is an annual flower that is native to Europe that can be found growing in open fields and along railroads from coast to coast of the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 1-3' and features grayish green, blade-like foliage and long stems topped by a 1” circlet of tiny lavender blue flowers with a darker center. This plant attracts bees and butterflies, provides bird forage, tolerates drought and frost, makes dye, self sows, and is great as a cut flower!
(Salvia officinalis 'Kitchen')
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Kitchen Sage is a perennial sub-shrub herb that is native to the Mediterranean and northern Africa but can be commonly found growing throughout the coastal regions of the United States. At maturity this plant reaches the height of 24-36” and features a woody stem, 3” green wrinkled, aromatic leaves, and upright spikes that bare lavender two-lipped flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees and butterflies, is horse and rabbit safe, repels cabbage moths, carrot fly, and flea beetles, is rabbit and deer resistant, tolerates drought and light frost, is used to flavor perfumes, shampoos, and toothpastes, is used to make essential oils and mouthwash, the leaves can be used to repel insects and clean teeth, and it is both edible and medicinal!
(Lupinus nanus ‘Sky Mix’)
Sky Lupine is a native short-lived perennial flower that can be found growing in grassy fields, slopes, and hills throughout the southwestern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 12-16” and features 8-16” stem spikes, star-shaped leaflet clusters, and blue, white, pink, and purple pea-like flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, and humming birds, is resistant to deer, and is great as a cut flower!
(Camassia quamash ‘Blue Camass’)
Blue Camass is a native perennial flower that is commonly found growing in moist mountain meadows and slopes in the northwestern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 2' and features a 2' clump of blade-like leaves at the base of a firm stem, and a large clusters of 2-3” starry blue flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bee, butterflies, and hummingbirds, can be used as a cut flower, is edible, and self sows!
(Salvia farinacea 'Blue')
Blue Sage is a native clump-forming tender perennial of Texas and New Mexico but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 2-3' and features erect branching stems, drooping, lance-shaped, greenish-gray, aromatic leaves, and two lipped, violet-blue flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer and rabbits, tolerates drought, self sows, and is great as a cut flower!
(Penstemon strictus ‘Rocky Mountain’)
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(Centaurea cyanus ‘Tall Blue’)
Tall Blue Cornflower is an annual flower that is native to Europe that can be found growing in open fields and along railroads from coast to coast of the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 1-3' and features grayish green, blade-like foliage and long stems topped by a 1” circlet of tiny lavender blue flowers with a darker center. This plant attracts bees and butterflies, provides bird forage, tolerates drought and frost, makes dye, self sows, and is great as a cut flower!
(Iris missouriensis ‘Wild Blue’)
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Wild Blue Iris is a native annual flower that can be commonly found growing in the wet areas of meadows and mountainous marshes throughout the western United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 2' and features stiff sword-shaped leaves and 2-3” blooms of 6 segmented violet-blue petals that have a white and yellow center and dark purple veins. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts hummingbirds, tolerates frost, makes cordage, is resistant to deer, and has medicinal properties!