Growing Bee Balmīee balm grows easily in USDA hardiness zones 4-9. Even if you don’t care to eat them, the impressive flowers, with their long, sturdy stems, are an obvious choice in cut-flower arrangements. The leaves and flowers are edible and make a delicious (and healthy) tea and popular folk remedies. When you consider that bee balm’s scent naturally repels most insects, it becomes a prime candidate to plant around your porch or patio. Many varieties grow to be 3-4 feet tall, making them an ideal mid-height privacy screen. If you have an area of yard you would like to shield for a bit more privacy, consider planting a border of bee balm. It doesn’t need to be fertilized it has a scent that naturally repels pests (but is still pleasing to us) you don’t need to do anything to get it to flower, it will self-seed and fill in an area on its own, and at the end of the season you can mow it down and call it a day. Bee balm comes out a winner in looks and being dead-easy to grow. If you’re looking for ways to cut down garden maintenance time, this plant should be at the top of your list. If you’re concerned about the global decrease in pollinators, consider planting bee balm, a food source, in your backyard. The colorful, crown-like blooms are a favorite among these tiny winged gems.īee balm isn’t only attractive to hummingbirds, though it’s also a favorite among bees and butterflies for its sweet nectar. If you’re a fan of hummingbirds and want to attract them to your yard, then you’ll want a stand (or several) of bee balm. Why Grow Bee Balm? A Pollinator Favorite Hold still so I can take your picture, little lady! But how about I back up my stance with a few reasons why I think it’s such a great plant. Bee balm even made our list of flowers that are as useful as they are pretty. I stand by my claim that everyone should grow bee balm it’s the perfect option for the gardener looking to optimize their flowerbeds with hardworking beauties. However, that comes from the oil of the bergamot orange rind.īee balm is also known as horsemint, and Oswego tea, the latter coming from its Native American use as an herbal tea. People often (mistakenly) assume that it’s this plant that lends its flavor to Earl Grey tea. This is, of course, how they came to be called wild bergamot. The flowers of bee balm have a sweet citrusy scent reminiscent of a bergamot orange. And their blooms last for weeks each summer, rather than days. These perennials come back each year, growing in thick, lush stands of dark green foliage with tall, stately flowers. Although, there are plenty of hybrids between 1 and 2 feet tall. They’re relatively tall plants, growing anywhere from 2-4 feet tall. Its blooms range in color from deep burgundy and fuchsia to pale purple, sitting atop a long stem studded with emerald green leaves. You can find it growing alongside the road or in rocky wooded areas, and even in your neighbor’s well-groomed landscape. Bee balm, Monarda, is a wildflower native to North America and a member of the mint family. With its royal-looking bloom, this flower has more than looks going for it. Yup, if you grow flowering plants, bee balm should be among them.
Bee balm needs to be in everyone’s backyard. I’m going to go out on a limb here and make a rather bold claim.
0 kommentar(er)
