Does bee balm come back year after year?

The bee balm flower has an open, daisy-like shape, with tubular petals in shades of red, pink, purple, and white. Bee balm plants are perennial, coming back year after year to add cheerful color to your garden.

Is the plant bee balm a perennial?

A perennial-favorite native to North America, bee balm (Monarda spp.), also called wild bergamot, is beloved in flower beds for its display of beautiful blooms of red, pink, purple or white in mid- to late summer. The plants bear fragrant foliage, too. Here’s how to plant and grow bee balm in your garden!

What does growing bee balm look like?

Bee balm is a somewhat weedy plant growing 2 to 4 feet tall, with oval leaves that are downy on the undersides. Bee balm is usually planted in the spring or fall from container-grown nursery plants. It is a fast-growing perennial that often reaches full height and flowering maturity in its first season.

How many years does it take for bee balm to bloom?

Quick Reference Growing Guide

Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial Red, pink, light to dark purple
Hardiness (USDA Zone): 3-9 Drought
Bloom Time / Season: Summer Average
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade 6.0-7.0
Time to Maturity: 110-120 days Well-draining

Should bee balm be cut back in the fall?

In the fall or winter, you should prune bee balm after it has died back. Take it back down to just above the soil’s surface. This allows you to clean up the dead plant material, and perennial varieties will begin to show signs of new growth in the late winter or early spring again.

Does bee balm spread easily?

Bee balms spread rapidly via underground stems or stolons. In addition, the centers of the clumps often die out within a few years. To control their spread and rejuvenate the plants, it’s usually necessary to dig and divide bee balms every 2 to 3 years. Early spring is the best time to dig and divide bee balms.

Does bee balm repel mosquitoes?

Beloved for its ability to beckon bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, bee balm (Monarda) also earns rave reviews for its mosquito-repelling qualities.

Does bee balm attract wasps?

Monarda fistulosa Wild bergamot is one of several plants also known by the common name of bee balm. Wild bergamot attracts a number of specialist bees, bumble bees, predatory wasps, hummingbirds, and hawk moths.

What is a good companion plant for bee balm?

6 Bee Balm Companion Plants

  • Squash. Squash plants are herbaceous annuals with trailing vines or bushy appearances.
  • Tomatoes. The tomato plant is typically grown as a perennial plant in the tropics, although it is mostly planted as an annual plant elsewhere.
  • Black-eyed Susans.
  • Phlox.
  • Roses.
  • Peonies.

Can bee balm survive a freeze?

Hardiness – The bee balm is tolerant of both cold and warm climates, and resists cold temperatures down to -20F.