Flower Specifications
- Approximate seeds per pound: 21,120,000
- Season: Perennial
- USDA Zones: 3 - 10
- Height: 30 - 60 inches
- Bloom Season: Summer
- Bloom Color: Lavender
- Environment: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil Type: Well-drained, pH 6.6 - 7.8
- Deer Resistant: Yes
Planting Directions
- Temperature: 68F
- Average Germ Time: 14 - 28 days
- Light Required: Yes
- Depth: Seeds must be covered thinly, no more than the thickness of the seed
- Sowing Rate: 4 seeds per plant or 1 pound per acre
- Moisture: Keep seed moist until germination
- Plant Spacing: 20 - 30 inches
Mintleaf Bee Balm (Monarda Fistulosa) - Also known as Wild Bergamot this perennial is an upright growing plant which spreads out. It has a lovely lavender blossom and distinctively aromatic foliage. Its sweet nectar is a favorite of butterflies, bees and hummingbirds. Bee balm is native to eastern North America and the plains, and it is easy to grow from wild flower seed and it multiplies quickly.
Bee Balm can be found naturally along riverbanks and enjoys this rich, organic, moist soil. However, it will grow in average soil as well. Full sun is best, but light shade is tolerated. Bee balm plants tend to spread more quickly in the shade. Most Monardas multiply rapidly either by underground stems or freely sowing their own flower seed. In order to keep plants healthy and vigorous, they should be divided at least every three years in the spring. Deadheading spent blooms will prolong the bloom time. Powdery mildew is a common fungal problem with Bee Balm. To prevent this fungus from appearing, large clumps should be thinned out so that the air circulates freely around them. The soil should also be kept consistently moist; dry soil promotes powdery mildew.
Sow Bee Balm flower seeds in small pots in late winter. Apply a starter fertilizer solution for the seedlings. Water when the soil surface is dry to the touch. Pinch off the tops of the plants several times during the growing season to encourage branching and a bushier grow habit. When the roots fill the container (about 2 months) they are ready for planting in the garden. Plant seedlings in a sunny, weed-free, well-drained soil, 20 - 30 inches a part. Water, if there are no rains. Bee Balm flower seeds can also be broadcast on a weed-free surface from January to mid-May in sunny locations. Irrigate regularly to keep seed moist until germination, and continue to water seedlings during pro-longed dry periods.
