In the Garden

The long upright stems of bee balm make a perfect perch for butterflies.

Add bee balm to flower beds or an herb garden for life and color. Try it in view of a window so you won’t miss the acrobatics of hummingbirds that visit in summer. Bee balm also attracts butterflies and bees. In a sunny field or meadow, let plants spread and multiply to create a blanket of color.

Planting and Care

Bee balm flowers are magnets for hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees.

For prolific blooms, plant in full sun; in the South and Southwest a little afternoon shade helps flowers last longer. Picking the flowers encourages a second round of blooms.

Plant in rich, well-drained soil with a pH from 6.0 to 6.7. Amend the soil with compost or add a slow-release fertilizer to the soil before planting. Although it tolerates drought, your plant will do much better if it gets adequate moisture; however, protect it from poor drainage, especially in winter. Water when leaves wilt in dry weather. Mulch in the spring.

In the late fall, cut plants back to within several inches of the ground. For a bushier shrub, pinch the tips of the stems when new growth appears each spring.

Bee balm spreads but not as aggressively as other members of the mint family. Every 3 or 4 years, dig up and divide the plants. Discard the old center section and replant the outer roots and shoots.

Troubleshooting

Bee balm can get powdery mildew. To avoid mildew, plant where there is good air circulation and avoid overhead watering. Also cut back plants in the fall, remove old stems, and clean up old mulch.

Harvest

Pick bee balm flowers in summer as they appear. You can cut whole stems of bee balm to enjoy the flowers in a vase. Pick flowers for drying just before they open.

Uses

A native wildflower hybridized for gardens, the flowers of bee balm are at their peak in summer.

Use fresh flowers as a garnish for green salads, fruit salads, cakes, or preserves. The aromatic leaves serve as a substitute for mint. You can dry them for tea. Dried leaves and flowers are also useful in sachets and potpourri.