Bee Balm

bee balmbee-friendlyaromaticprairie gardensummer flowering

Bee balm is a striking perennial with aromatic foliage and crown-like flowers in fiery red, pink or purple that appear in whorls around the stem in July and August. The blooms are a magnet for bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. The aromatic leaves release a bergamot scent when rubbed between the fingers.

See in your garden

Characteristics

Sun: Full sun, Partial shade
Water: Medium
Height: 60–120 cm
Spread: 40–60 cm
Hardiness zone: 4–9
Family: Lamiaceae
Evergreen: No
Flower colors: red, pink, purple
Wildlife value: bees, butterflies, hummingbirds

Bloom period

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Care guide

Plant in full sun to partial shade in moist, fertile soil. Ensure good air circulation to prevent mildew. Keep the soil evenly moist. Mulch around the base to retain moisture. Divide the plant every three years to maintain vigour.

Pruning tips

After the first flush of flowers, deadhead — a second, lighter bloom often follows. Cut back dead foliage to the ground in autumn. Thin dense clumps in spring for better air circulation.

Good companions

Pink-purple coneflower with orange-brown cone in a sunny border

Perennials

Echinacea purpurea

Purple Coneflower

Purple Coneflower is a sturdy perennial with distinctive pink-purple petals surrounding an orange-brown cone. The flowers appear from July to September and are a magnet for butterflies and bees. In autumn and winter, the seed heads attract goldfinches and other seed-eating birds.

Full sunLow60–120 cm

Pink flower clusters of garden phlox in a summer border

Perennials

Phlox paniculata

Garden Phlox

Garden Phlox is a stately border plant with large, dome-shaped flower clusters in pink, purple, or white. The blooms release a sweet fragrance and appear from July to September. Phlox is indispensable in the classic cottage garden.

Full sunMedium60–120 cm

Racemes of indigo-blue flowers of wild indigo above blue-green foliage

Perennials

Baptisia australis

Blue Wild Indigo

Blue wild indigo is a stately, long-lived perennial with blue-green trifoliate leaves and striking racemes of indigo-blue, lupin-like flowers in May and June. After flowering, decorative inflated dark seed pods appear that remain attractive into winter. The plant forms a sturdy, shrub-like clump that grows larger and more impressive each year.

Full sunLow90–120 cm