Eastern Beebalm

Monarda bradburiana

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.