Beebalm
Monarda didyma
Beebalm in full bloom is one of the summer garden's most arresting moments. The scarlet flower heads. ragged whorls of tubular petals circling each stem. open in July and August at exactly the time hummingbirds are stocking up on nectar for migration. Watch a patch on a clear morning and you may count a dozen visits before the dew dries. The foliage carries a sharp, oregano-like fragrance that you notice whenever you brush past or work nearby. It spreads by rhizome into an expanding colony over time, which can be an asset in a naturalized area or something to manage at the border edge. Newer plantings rarely need staking. Powdery mildew can appear in humid sites; improve air circulation and select resistant forms for long-term success. The seed heads are architectural and attractive through fall.
We grow a range of sizes and prices. Add the plant to your list, then pick your size when you visit.
Final price confirmed at pickup, depends on size and season.
- Thu, Jul 238 AM – 4 PM
- Fri, Jul 248 AM – 4 PM
- Sat, Jul 258 AM – 2 PM
A nursery-grown plant, ready for the ground.
Healthy, container-grown 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
- Average
- Mature size
- 2'–4'
- Bloom
- Showy red flowers July through August; fragrant foliage all season; architectural seed heads through fall
- USDA zones
- 3-9
Pairs well with these.
Same light, same soil, same wildlife. Janet's picks to plant alongside beebalm.
Or skip the guesswork.
Curated packages bundle 9–12 species that work together. One reservation, one pickup day, a printed layout map.
Butterfly Package
Host and nectar plants chosen to feed monarchs, swallowtails, and fritillaries spring through fall.
Hummingbird Package
Tubular-flowered natives that pull ruby-throats through your yard April through October.
S.O.S. Package
Save Our Songbirds, berry- and seed-bearing natives that feed nesting and migrating birds.