Bee Balm

As low as $39.99 was $49.99
Availability: In stock
SKU
10002260

If you love watching beneficial pollinators flutter around your flower garden, then you should try this showy native plant. You will be amazed by how many wonderful creatures visit your yard when you plant this unique and whimsical native wildflower!

Hummingbirds, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators flock to the native Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa) for a nectar fix! Also known as Wild Bergamot, this is a popular and easy-care wildflower to use in the residential landscape! Super, pinky lavender blooms last a long time in the summer and resemble fairy crowns or jester hats!

As a member of the Mint family, you'll want to give it room to spread and create a wonderful display of ethereal fairy flowers - both outdoors and in your bouquets. You'll appreciate the fragrant foliage, too! Hardy throughout USDA growing zones 3 to 9, this herbaceous perennial can grow nearly 4 feet when in bloom and spread up to 2 feet wide.

Planting and Application:

Ideal for open meadows, native wildflower gardens, and sunny prairie plantings in the sun, Cottage gardens, Cut Flower gardens, and Pollinator borders almost require a Bee Balm to be planted in their midst! Add these fancy jester hats to Children's gardens and Sensory Gardens where the aromatic foliage perfumes the air!

Plant several in a zig-zag pattern through the center of a sunny garden bed. This is a relatively fine-textured plant and contrasts beautifully when planted in front of shaggier evergreen shrubs. Pair it with late-season bloomers like Asters and Sedum to continue the floral feast. You might also try this in seasonal containers as an upright "Thriller".

Add seating nearby and bring your camera. You won't want to miss the show as pollinators and hummingbirds arrive to sip the nectar. Have an herbal or medicinal garden? You need this old-world herb for tea and tinctures!

  • Showy, Lavender Blooms Like Jester Hats!
  • Adored by Beneficial Pollinators
  • Great Cut Flowers
  • Aromatic Green Foliage - Makes Oswego Tea!
  • Wonderful Native Plantings, Wildflower Gardens & Sunny Landscapes

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Be sure to plant perennial Bee Balm in well-drained soil and full sun for the best performance. The foliage needs good air circulation to prevent powdery mildew, and they appreciate the morning sun for the same reason. Highly adaptable and vigorously growing, you can pinch back the young stems to increase branching. Deadhead the spent flowers to encourage a rebloom and prune back the entire plant in the late fall after the frost kills back the tops and remove the leaves and stems to yard waste.

In some areas, this native plant actually does a little "too well". Nature Hills uses Plant Sentry™ to keep any plants that may get into trouble from shipping into those areas and staying up to date with all Federal and State agricultural regulations. Add your Zip Code to the Plant Highlights section to see if we can ship Bee Balm to you.

  • Full Sun - Especially Morning Sun
  • Any Well-Drained Soil
  • Moderate to Low Moisture Needs
  • Deadhead After Bloom & Prune Late Autumn
  • Hardy & Adaptable Perennial Native Wildflower

This whimsical perennial is a fan and butterfly favorite, so be sure to order your very own native Bee Balm plants today from Nature Hills Nursery before it's too late!

Buying Options for Plants

Nature Hills sells a large variety of plants with several options available. Plants are offered in both potted containers and as dormant bare root without soil. Here is a helpful resource to understand your options as you create a beautiful landscape with help from Nature Hills.

Ever wonder what a larger plant will mean for your landscape? Container Sizes are really all about the age of the plant!

Seasonally, Nature Hills offers hand selected, high quality bare root trees, shrubs and perennials. Bare root plants are sold by height from the top of the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may be taller than the height minimums.

  • Popular sizes of select trees are 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, etc.
  • Popular sizes of select bare root plants is 1 foot, 18 inches, etc.

Nature Hills Container Size by Volume

Keep in mind, specific varieties and different growing conditions can affect the rate at which plants grow. Variations in size may occur.

Young Plants to 18 Months
Size Volume
2"x2"x3" Ranges from .18 to .21 dry quarts / .198 to .23 dry liters in volume
4.5" Container Equal to .65 dry quart / .72 dry liter in volume
Sprinter Pot Equal to .63 dry quart / .69 dry liter in volume
4" Container Ranges from .31 to .87 / .35 to .96 dry liter in volume
6" Container Equal to 1.4 dry quarts / 1.59 dry liters in volume
1 Quart Equal to 1 dry quart / 1.1 dry liter in volume
5.5" Container Equal to 1.89 of a dry quart / 2.08 dry liters in volume
4"x4"x5" Ranges from .8 to 1.1 dry quarts / .88 to 1.2 dry liters in volume
4"x4"x6" Ranges from 1.0 to 1.3 dry quarts / 1.1 to 1.41 dry liters in volume
4"x4"x9" Ranges from 1.1 to 2.1 dry quarts / 1.2 to 2.3 dry liters in volume
4"x4"x10" Ranges from 1.7 to 2.3 dry quart / 1.87 to 2.53 dry liters in volume
Plants 18 Months - 2.5 Years Old
Size Volume
2 Quart Equal to 2 dry quarts / 2.2 dry liters in volume
#1 Container Ranges from 2.26 to 3.73 dry quarts / 2.49 to 4.11 dry liters in volume
5"x5"x12" Equal to 3.5 to 4.3 dry quarts / 3.85 to 4.74 dry liters in volume
Plants 2 - 4 Years Old
Size Volume
#2 Container Ranges from 1.19 to 1.76 dry gallons / 5.24 to 7.75 dry liters in volume
#3 Container Ranges from 2.32 to 2.76 dry gallons / 10.22 to 12.16 dry liters in volume
Plants 3 - 5 Years Old
Size Volume
#5 Container Ranges from 2.92 to 4.62 dry gallons / 12.86 to 20.35 dry liters in volume
#6 Container Ranges from 5.25 to 6.01 dry gallons / 23.12 to 26.42 dry liters in volume
#7 Container Ranges from 5.98 to 6.08 dry gallons / 26.34 to 26.78 dry liters in volume

About Plant Sentry™

Plant Sentry is designed to protect both consumers and the nursery trade from invasive plant pests and diseases. Sites that display the Plant Sentry protection badge are protected from consumers buying and nurseries shipping material carrying invasive pests and diseases.

This proprietary eCommerce software prevents the shipment of a restricted plant to each state. The Plant Sentry system includes a shipment certification program. The Plant Sentry Compliance Officer works closely with NatureHills.com and each nursery or fulfillment center to ensure only compliant plants are sold to customers.

Click Here to learn more

Plant Sentry

Shipping

To obtain a more accurate shipment time-frame, simply enter your zip code in the “Find Your Growing Zone” box to the right. Our plants are grown all over the country and lead time on items may be different because of this. Once your order is placed, you will also receive the specific shipment time-frame information as part of your order confirmation. Once an item ships, you will receive shipment notification and tracking numbers, so you can follow along while your plant travels to your doorstep. We use FedEx, UPS, or USPS at our discretion.

Due to winter weather we have put a hold on shipping to the areas shown below in grey. You can still order now and we will ship the plant to you during an appropriate time for your zone.

*If you have found your zone already, it will be highlighted in the table below.
Color Zone Times
3 Spring 2019
4 Now
5 Now
6 Now
7 Now
8 Now
9 Now
10 Now
11 Now

Shipping Rates

At Nature Hills we handle, package and ship the products you order with the utmost care to ensure healthy delivery. Shipping and handling charges are calculated based on the tables below. Please note that some items include an additional handling surcharge, these will be noted on the item's product page.

From To S&H
0 - 19.99 24.99
20 - 49.99 29.99
50 - 69.99 34.99
70 - 99.99 39.99
100 - 129.99 44.99
130 - 149.99 48.99
150 - 150+ Approx 28%

Click here to see our full rates

PLANT HIGHLIGHTS

Bee Balm Is Suited to Grow in Zones 3-9
Growing Zones 3-9
More Information
Brand Nature Hills' Choice
Botanical Name Monarda fistulosa
Type Perennial
Mature Height 2 - 4 feet
Mature Spread 18 - 24 inches
Sun Exposure Full Sun
Soil Well Drained
Moisture Moderate to Low
Growth Rate Medium
Flower Color Pinkish-Lavender
Foliage Color Green
Fall Color Yellow
Pollinator Friendly Yes
Pruning Time Late Autumn
Fragrant Yes