'Raspberry Wine' Bee Balm (Monarda)
Perennial
- Vibrant raspberry flowers grow vigorously all summer.
- Resistant to powdery mildew & low maintenance.
- Fragrant flowers & foliage deters deer.
- Native perennial is loved by pollinators!
- Zones 4-9, sun/part sun, 2.5' tall and 14-18" wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
As a North American native, bee balm is a durable perennial that blooms in summer heat. Its sturdy stems keep the flowers upright and shining. Its fragrant, colorful blooms attract pollinators to the garden, but mint-like foliage deters deer and other pests. Bee balm is best suited for a tall border, the middle of beds, or mass plantings.
Details
Common name: Bee balm, horsemint
Zone: 4 - 9
Sun exposure: Sun, Part sun
Height x width: 2.5' tall and 14-18" wide
Flower color: Raspberry, pink
Foliage color: Green
Bloom time: Summer
Features: Wet soils, space savers, rain gardens, rabbit & deer resistant, native, heat tolerant, fragrant, cold tolerant, pollinator friendly
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.