'Leading Lady Orchid' Bee Balm (Monarda)
Perennial
- Proven Winners plant ideal for small spaces at only 10-14" tall.
- Colorful and long blooming, up to 12 weeks!
- Thrives in both moist and average soils.
- Doesn't spread rampantly like other monardas.
- Zones 4-8, sun/part sun, 14" tall x 28" wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
This Proven Winners perennial is easy to grow, low maintenance, deer resistant, cold hardy, and pollinator-friendly. Try planting it in a container, on embankments, in rain gardens, or any other spot that needs a burst of summer color!
Details
Patent #: USPP 33,132
Common name: Bee balm, horsemint
Zone: 4 - 8
Sun exposure: Sun, Part sun
Height x width: 10-14" tall X 22-28" wide
Flower color: Pink
Foliage color: Green
Bloom time: Summer
Features: Wet soils, space savers, rain gardens, rabbit & deer resistant, Proven Winners, native, heat tolerant, fragrant, cold tolerant
Uses: Accent, container gardening, edging, erosion control or embankment, ground cover, massing, rain garden, rock garden, under planting, waterside
How to Grow
Light: Full sun to partial sun
Water: Average to abundant, depending on weather. Established plants can tolerate dry conditions.
Spacing: Space at least 24-28" from other plants; good air circulation encourages healthy, vigorous growth.
Fertilizing: Little needed. If desired, apply a granular garden fertilizer in early spring, just as the soil begins to thaw.
Winterizing: No special care needed. Any old stems that persist after winter can be cut back in spring.
Maintenance & pruning: Remove spent blooms for better performance and looks. While not imperative, it results in a neater, showier plant.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.
These are healthy even after shipping in the extreme heat. Beautiful!
It is thriving in a marshy area of our yard just like the reviews promised. Very happy.
The plant arrived in beautiful condition and when promised. It took to its new location very well and is growing well, in spite of constant drenching rains. It even put out a couple of early blooms, which were spectacular. I’m looking forward to watching it as we move into summer.
I think these may be too tightly clustered. They bloomed nicely last year after planting and then early this summer but have turned brown and are dying. It seems like they are bunched too close together. I am going to salvage what I can and spread them out. I would recommend buying bee balm as individual plants or just two or three stems in a bundle so they don't suffocate themselves.
We're sorry you're having trouble with your plants. All orders are covered by our 60-day guarantee. Please refer back to our previous responses. Our friendly customer service team is happy to help!
They arrived looking great. They have begun growing.
Much smaller than expected foe the price
We’re sorry you’re not satisfied with your plants! On each product page and our plant sizes page, we note that all of our plants are young. The size of our plants varies depending on the time of year and whether they were recently trimmed. The most important thing when purchasing plants, online or in garden centers, is a full and robust root system, which we prioritize. Trimming only encourages stronger root development! All orders are covered by our 60-day guarantee, so please reach out to us to start the claims process if necessary.
The packaging was perfect to keep them safe in transit, and all my plants arrived in great condition! I'm excited to get her planted and see her flourish! 💖
Planted this fall for next. Plants look very good right now
The Russian sage didn’t make it I think only two things made it you credited one thing but I wanted two so things were even. Plants weren’t healthy so it’s hard to get them to make it. Not ordering again Tammy
We’re sorry you’re having trouble with your plants! Our team of horticulture experts would love to take a closer look! Our fall guarantee covers plants received after September 1 until May 2026, so we have you covered. Please send your order number and pictures of your plants to [email protected] to start the claims process if necessary. We look forward to helping! https://bit.ly/ggp-guarantee
Very healthy and good looking plants very happy with all of my orders thank you
Thank you soooo much for healthy beautiful plants. Got in the ground as instructed. Waited 2-3 days. Of course no blooms yet except for one phlox that came with blooms.
All doing well!!
Packaged very carefully and well, fast shipping and healthy plants!
Beautiful little plant. Can’t wait to see it next year
Love the size and how it was picked. Will never buy from another online store but this one!
I’m hoping they live. Bee balm got broken in transet 😔
Hi Lory,
I'm sorry you received plants that are not up to our standards. Please email pictures of the plants to [email protected], making sure to put your order number and name in the subject line. Rest assured, we have a 60-day guarantee on all our plants. If you received your plants within that timeframe, we will apply your warranty once we receive the pictures. https://bit.ly/ggp-guarantee
planted late in the season so it has not bloomed...it is still alive...do not expect it to bloom this year...getting too cold here in Ohio...hope it will be beautiful nest year...
Every plant I have purchased from you has arrived happy and healthy! Thank you!
All but one survived. The ones that did look good.
love your plants
All my plants I ordered were in great condition and every one of them are thriving. Great Gardens Plants are my favorite.
My 4 bees that were installed last year came back and bloomed beautifully this spring. They didn't stay "blooming" 12 weeks though and after I deadheaded back the first bloom round they have remain sparse-leaved and have not re-bloomed since. I was expecting continual blooming for most of the summer based on the plant description. They are planted in a favorable location with plenty of space for air circulation. No mildew, just slow sparse regrowth of leaves and no blooms. Thoughts?
We're sorry your bee balm isn't blooming as expected! If your bee balm plants are not re-blooming after the initial flowering and deadheading, it may help to ensure they are receiving full sun (6+ hours) and are planted in well-draining soil. Blooming can be influenced by various factors, even with proper care.
About the Leading Lady Orchid Beebalm: what color is it? The Pix I see on line are anywhere from pink to purple.
The blooms on the 'Leading Lady Orchid' Bee Balm will be a stunning orchid-pink color.
Will this plant grow in large pots?
Hello! The compact size of 'Leading Lady Orchid' Bee Balm makes it an ideal choice for container gardening!
I live in ohio. Could this plant service in hilliard, ohio
Hello! 'Leading Lady Orchid' Bee Balm is rated for USDA zones 4-8. As long as you live in that zone range, you should be good to grow!
Do you need to deadhead this plant
Hi there! It isn't necessary to deadhead this bee balm but removing spent blooms will improve performance and looks, resulting in a neater, showier plant.