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Bee Balm Scientific name is Monarda didyma. Bee Balm is a very bonny herb with a wonderful fruity, minty aroma. Bee Balm growing at poise in almost any soil, bergamots prefer a slightly moist spot with full sun; they become somewhat floppy when grown in the shade. These plants are strenuous spreaders, so excess plants should be removed from time to time. Plant where air circulation is good, because mildew can be a trouble.
Beebalm is a spreading plant and will colonize its neighbours without contriteness or regret. A sharp scoop in the spring will limit its aggressiveness and the resulting offsets can be shared across the fence with neighbours. Monarda is often used in beds and borders to provoke and increase the appearance of hummingbirds, pollinating insects, and because of oils present in its roots is sometimes used to companion plant around small vegetable crops susceptible to subterranean pests. The attractive tubular flowers, held like a crown at the top of the 3-4 foot stems in mid and late summer come in a lot of colors including red, pink and purple. On top of all these properties, it is a hardy perennial herb that will grow in all zones.
Bee Balm needs full sun or light shade and fertile, light and moist soil. It is best proliferated by division or cuttings rather than seed because the seed isn't always true to the parent plant. Bee Balm is so lovely it should be included in your flower beds. It will magnetize bees, butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden.
Monarda species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including case-bearers of the genus Coleophora. The Bergamot of the Monarda species should not be turbided with the popular flavoring used in Earl Grey tea. Dried leaves may be used for teas or aromatherapies, but the odor is delicately different from Citrus bergamia, the Earl Grey flavoring. For medicinal usage, Monarda has been known to treat headaches and fevers by steeping crushed leaves in boiling water. This is a fantastic tea herb. To make a cup of tea, plainly place tablespoon of fresh or one teaspoon of dried Bee Balm leaves and/or flowers in a tea strainer or tea spoon and pour one cup of boiling water over it.
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