Monarda | Bee Balm

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Highly scented monarda is related to the mints and has a spicy pepper scent

Linnaeus named the genus Monarda in honor of a 16th century Spanish physician and botanist, Nicolas Bautista Monardes (1493-1588). Monardes studied medicinal plants brought back to Spain from the New World.

June Blooms Monarda BeeBalm

The placement of the Peter's Purple Bee Balm* was carefully considered. Enough sunshine to provide a generous flower bloom and airflow to discourage powdery mildew. The puffy purple blooms started appearing two weeks ago and are completing their show this week. I like the purple flowers against the gray of the oak bark. This thrives in both the sunny front, and  shady back yards. 

Peter's Purple Bee Balm (Monarda)

Credit                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Lemon Beebalm

Monarda Citriodora 'Bergamo'
Bergamo's lemon bee balm

Lemon beebalm is an aromatic winter annual with unusual, tuft-like, lavender to pink, whorled flower heads. Each whorl in the elongated spike is subtended by whitish or lavender, leaf-like bracts. Several stems grow from the base and are lined with pairs of lance-shaped leaves. This carpet of pollinator habitat was a visual delight at the Fort Worth Botanical Garden a couple of years ago.

Bergamo Beebalm

Monarda Citriodora 'Bergamo'

*Monarda ‘Peter’s Purple’ is a hybrid of M. fistulosa ‘Claire Grace’ and a Mexican species, Monarda bartlettii. 

Monarda, Research Report from Mt. Cuba Center

Bibliography

Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, Sally
Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest (1991) Miller, G. O.
Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Texas Wildflowers: A Field Guide (1984) Loughmiller, C. & L. Loughmiller
Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender
Useful wild plants of Texas, the Southeastern and Southwestern United States, the Southern Plains, and Northern Mexico (Volume 1: Abronia-Arundo) (1995) S. Cheatham; M. C. Johnston; L. Marshall
Wildflowers of Texas (2003) Ajilvsgi, Geyata.
Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country (1989) Enquist, M.

Evaluation of the Antifungal Activity of the Essential Oils of Monarda citriodora, Bishop

©  Grassroots Horticulture

2000-2015

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Bee Balm Monarda

Horsemint, Bee Balm, Oswego Tea, is an annual or perennial, coarse aromatic herbs, commonly known as Horsemint. They have square stems and opposite leaves characteristic of the Mint Family, and bear showy red or lavender flowers in clusters. 

Bee Balm, Peter's Purple 
Monarda 'Peter's Purple' Bee Balm

Bergamo Beebalm

Monarda Citriodora 'Bergamo'

Resources

Mt. Cuba Center, Wilmington, Delaware

©  Grassroots Horticulture

2000-2015

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