FoliageBee Balm
Monarda didyma
Bee Balm (Monarda didyma) is a medium-growing perennial, hardy in USDA zones 4-9, that matures to about 2-4 ft × 2-3 ft. It does best in full sun and part shade with high water needs in well-drained, moist and occasionally-wet soil. Expect red blooms in summer. It attracts butterflies, hummingbirds and moths, stands up well to black walnut, deer and pests.
- USDA zones
- 4-9
- Sun
- Full sun, Part shade
- Water
- High
- Mature size
- 2-4 ft × 2-3 ft
- Growth rate
- Medium
- Maintenance
- Medium
- Soil
- Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally-wet
- Bloom color
- Red
- Bloom season
- Summer
- Attracts
- Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Moths, Pollinators, Bees
- Tough against
- Black walnut, Deer, Pests, Rabbits, Wet soil
- Native to
- Canada, United States
In the landscape
Data sources
Freeze survival
Will it survive your winters?
Hardiness zones show a normal bad winter. We check the worst one — Bee Balm is hardy to about -30°F (estimated from USDA zone 4), so we'll score it against the real coldest nights your area has actually had.
Powered by ~35 years of daily lows from the nearest NOAA weather station. A risk read, not a guarantee — a sheltered spot or mature plant beats the odds.
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