Bee balm (Monarda didyma)

[Durgan]

http://www.durgan.org/2015/July 2015/22 July 2015 Bee balm (Monarda didyma)/HTML/ 22 July 2015 Bee balm (Monarda didyma)
My perennial Bee Balm plant is in full bloom. There are actually two bumble bees collecting food.Bees are very rare in my garden.

 

[claudine]

It's a great picture! I love bees Fortunately, they visit my parents' garden quite often.
Your Bee balm plant is beautiful!

 

[IcyBC]

I can see a bee and it is a gorgeous flower, and gorgeous color! I have many different types of bees in my garden and they are not nearly as good looking as yours

 

[Esther Knapicius]

Mine is doing well. It draws hummingbirds.

 

[IcyBC]

They are gorgeous @Esther Knapicius You should get lots of butterflies and bees too

 

[Esther Knapicius]

thanks, yes, some butterflys land there. but they also love the phlox and the Joe Pye weed.

 

[DeborahJane]

http://www.durgan.org/2015/July 2015/22 July 2015 Bee balm (Monarda didyma)/HTML/ 22 July 2015 Bee balm (Monarda didyma)
My perennial Bee Balm plant is in full bloom. There are actually two bumble bees collecting food.Bees are very rare in my garden.

The Bee Balm is a pretty flower. Yet another one I didn't know. I so really enjoy everyone sharing their gardens.Thanks Durgan

 

[DeborahJane]

Mine is doing well. It draws hummingbirds. View attachment 8017

What a lovlel display of Bee Balm Esther. Does it self seed to spread like that?

 

[Esther Knapicius]

no, it does not self seed, it gently gets wider and wider. plant it in a spot so it can do that and not roll over something else. not fast at it though.

 

[Mockingbird]

Last year I put Bee balm in, it is my second attempt and it flowered wonderfully this year. What should I do after it flowers? cut it back or just leave it alone? I also wondered about it re-seeding but I have an answer to that now. Makes me wish I had moved it over more ... anyone with any experience on moving the Bee Balm?

 

[Durgan]

Bee balm is most forgiving as a plant. It should be thinned out every three or four years. It spreads by its root system, which can get crowded.. But it takes a year to stabilize after a large disturbance, Sometimes I rototill it almost into oblivion and it recovers in a year or two. It truly is a nice plant to have in a garden.

 

[Esther Knapicius]

I leave lot of my plants alone through the winter as some show winter interest with snow sitting on them .

 

[DeborahJane]

no, it does not self seed, it gently gets wider and wider. plant it in a spot so it can do that and not roll over something else. not fast at it though.

Thanks Esther. It's on my plant shopping list and I'll have a better idea of where to plant it of o do manage to find it.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

very nice. I have Bee Balm too, (Monarda fistulosa).

 

[Esther Knapicius]

Question: when the bee balm is all done for the year can you cut it all down to about couple inches from the ground? I think the answer is yes. I guess if it looks like it could be winter interest it can stay ---also I don't see seeds for the birds.