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How do you identify a bee balm plant?
Does bee balm have fuzzy leaves?
Foliage – The bee balm produces dark-green leaves, with a toothed appearance. The leaves grow opposite to one another, and on square stalks, a characteristic of plants in the mint family. The surface of the leaf feels somewhat fuzzy to touch.
What part of bee balm is used for tea?
Bee Balm Tea The individual petals of bee balm flowers pull out easily and can be dried to make a beautiful bright red tea. In season, the petals can also be used fresh.
What is the difference between bee balm and lemon balm?
While both bee balm and lemon balm are in the mint family, the plants are rather different. Bee balm is larger, often reaching 4 feet tall with 3-inch crimson flowers. Lemon balm is smaller, most often reaching 2-3 feet in height and produces small white flowers less than 1 inch in size.
Can you eat wild bee balm?
Bee balm (Monarda) is a flowering perennial plant in the mint family. All above ground parts of the plant are edible. The leaves and flowers can be eaten raw or cooked. Bee balm has a minty taste and a flavor similar to oregano.
Can you make tea out of bee balm leaves?
Bee balm tea can be made from both fresh and dried leaves. I find the flavor of tea made from Monarda didyma to be rather strong. To make tea, start with about 1-teaspoon of crushed, dried bee balm leaves per 8-ounce cup of boiling water. Steep for at least 5 minutes and drink like regular tea.
Does bee balm like sun or shade?
Bee balm tolerates partial sun, but you’ll get fewer flowers. Space monarda plants 18 to 24 inches apart in organically rich soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.7 that drains easily. Bee balm needs good air circulation to help prevent powdery mildew, a common fungal disease.
Will bee balm choke out other plants?
Simply place them in an area isolated away from any plants that can’t hold their own against bee balm. Anything shorter may get choked out by them, and plants with particularly shallow roots such as roses may also suffer from having to compete with them for nutrients and moisture, even if they’re taller.
What grows well with bee balm?
Companion Planting and Design Bee balm is a perfect cottage garden plant. I like to let it ramble though a perennial flower border next to tall garden phlox, rudbeckia, roses, and peonies.
How fast does bee balm spread?
Bee balms spread rapidly via underground stems or stolons. In addition, the centers of the clumps often die out within a few years. To control their spread and rejuvenate the plants, it’s usually necessary to dig and divide bee balms every 2 to 3 years. Early spring is the best time to dig and divide bee balms.
What does bee balm attract?
Bee balm is a great addition to a pollinator garden. The flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees; and the seed heads will attract birds in the fall and winter. Learn more about plants that attract butterflies and hummingbirds.
Is bee balm poisonous?
Bee balm (Monarda) is a member of the mint family. Bee balm is not poisonous for humans. In fact, eating the leaves will not harm a cat, dog or other animals in any way. Despite not being poisonous to animals, eating parts of any plant can cause digestive upset to an animal.
How do you make bee balm tea?
Instructions Put the water into a large glass jar or pitcher. Remove the flower petals from the bee balm stems. Add the bee balm to the water, giving it a good stir. Cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Strain the tea through cheesecloth or a coffee filter and then keep chilled until ready to use.
Does bee balm attract wasps?
Wild bergamot is one of several plants also known by the common name of bee balm. Wild bergamot attracts a number of specialist bees, bumble bees, predatory wasps, hummingbirds, and hawk moths.
Do bee balm plants attract bees?
BEE BALM and Lemon balm are two distinct herbs, alike in many ways. Both belong to Labiatae, the mint family. Both herbs are hardy perennials, easy to grow, attract bees, yet repel pests. Both make excellent tea or tisanes.
What does wild bee balm look like?
Also known by its botanical name of Monarda, bee balm is very attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The bee balm flower has an open, daisy-like shape, with tubular petals in shades of red, pink, purple, and white.
What do you do with bee balm after it blooms?
As your flowers start to fade, you should deadhead bee balm just above the next flower bud to encourage further flowering. Once a stem has finished flowering, trim it back down to the ground or pinch it off. This will encourage the plant to send up another blossoming stem.
Is bee balm spicy?
Both plants are members of the mint family and have a strong herbal flavor that closely resembles that of oregano. It’s a warm, spicy, versatile herb, but most people appreciate it only for its good looks, never realizing it’s edible.
