Eastern Beebalm
Monarda bradburiana
Beebalm bloom in late spring, weeks ahead of the rest. Lavender-spotted white flowers, compact manners, and aromatic foliage deer avoid.
Typically 1 pint–1 gal · $9–$30 · final price at pickup
- Thu, Aug 138 AM – 4 PM
- Fri, Aug 148 AM – 4 PM
- Sat, Aug 158 AM – 2 PM
A compact, earlier-blooming bee balm that fills the late-spring pollinator gap with showy bracts and aromatic foliage, without the spread of larger species.
Eastern Beebalm blooms earlier than most Monardas, late spring instead of midsummer, filling a gap when the garden needs attention and pollinators need food. The white flowers dotted with lavender spots and surrounded by showy lavender-pink bracts create a different effect than the typical red or purple bee balms, lending a softer, more meadow-like quality. Bumblebees and hummingbirds find it quickly. It's also more compact and better-behaved than Monarda didyma or fistulosa, making it easier to integrate into a formal border without worry about it taking over. The aromatic foliage has the classic Monarda bergamot scent that deer reliably avoid. An excellent choice for gardeners who want the ecology of bee balm without the size or spread of the larger species.
A nursery-grown plant, ready for the ground.
Healthy, container-grown eastern beebalm propagated on-site at Hill House from regional genetics. Includes a one-page care card. We make every effort to supply plants as listed; occasionally we substitute a similar species of equal value.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Dry
- Mature size
- 1–1.7 ft · 12–18 in wide
- Bloom time
- May–June
- Bloom color
- Pink
- USDA zones
- 4–8
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Native range
- Central and southeastern North America. open woods, glades, rocky slopes from Illinois and Indiana south to Tennessee, Arkansas, and Oklahoma
Care notes for eastern beebalm.
Plant in full sun to part shade in well-drained, average to dry soil. More drought tolerant than Monarda didyma. Deadhead spent flower heads to extend bloom and tidy the plant. Divide every three to four years in spring to maintain vigor. Good air circulation reduces mildew risk in humid climates. The aromatic foliage is naturally deer resistant with no special treatment needed.
Pairs well with these.
Same light, same soil, same wildlife. Janet's picks to plant alongside eastern beebalm.
Or skip the guesswork.
Curated packages bundle complementary species for an instant habitat. One reservation, one pickup day, a printed layout map.
Short on Space Package
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Shade Bed Package
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Birder’s Paradise Package
For the avid bird watchers and budding ornithologists in our community, the Birder’s Paradise Package consists of species that Hill House Nursery staff and longtime native plant advocates such as Doug Tallamy consider ‘premier bird garden plants’.