Bee Balm
Monarda didyma 'Jacob Cline'
The hummingbird magnet: deep scarlet heads all summer, with mildew resistance that stays clean through humid mid-Atlantic summers.
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
The best hummingbird plant we carry. deep red flowers all summer, superior mildew resistance, and aromatic foliage that smells as good as it looks.
'Jacob Cline' is the hummingbird magnet. Plant it and the hummingbirds will find it, typically within days. The deep scarlet-red flower heads are larger and richer in color than the straight species, and they appear reliably all summer long with minimal deadheading. The fragrant, aromatic foliage that smells unmistakably of bergamot fills the air when you brush past on a hot summer day. Selected for superior mildew resistance, 'Jacob Cline' stays clean through humid mid-Atlantic summers when other bee balm selections develop powdery mildew and look ragged by August. It spreads by rhizomes and will fill a space over time. Pair it with other vigorous natives that can hold their own, or use it in a naturalized wet area where its colonizing habit is an asset. One of the most requested native perennials we carry.
A nursery-grown plant, ready for the ground.
Healthy, container-grown bee balm 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
- Moist
- Mature size
- 3–4 ft · 24–36 in wide
- Bloom time
- July–September
- USDA zones
- 4–9
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Native range
- Eastern North America. moist woods, stream banks from Maine to Michigan south to Georgia (species); cultivar selected for superior performance
Care notes for bee balm.
Plant in full sun to part shade in moist, humus-rich soil. Water consistently through summer for best bloom. Divide every two to three years in spring as clumps spread. share the divisions. Cut back by one-third in late June to delay flowering and extend bloom into fall. While 'Jacob Cline' is mildew-resistant, good air circulation still improves performance. Deadhead to extend bloom period.
Pairs well with these.
Same light, same soil, same wildlife. Janet's picks to plant alongside bee balm.
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
For gardeners who have an abundance of passion but are short on space, this package features tidy, upright, clump-forming natives that behave and function well in small spaces.
Shade Bed Package
Ferns, sedges, and woodland natives that thrive under existing trees.
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’.