Balmy Beebop Bee Balm
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Balmy Beebop Bee Balm |
| Botanical Name | Monarda punctata Balmy Beebop |
| Mature Size | 40” tall, 18” wide |
| Sun Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Shade |
| Soil Type | Loamy, sandy, silt, well-drained |
| Soil pH | Neutral |
| Bloom Time | Early to late summer |
| Flower Color | Yellow, Purple |
| Care | Spotted bee balm is a native plant that offers gardeners maximum pollinator value for minimum effort. It is a perennial albeit a short-lived one. if you want its continuous presence in your yard every summer, you might have to divide an existing plant, or start a new plant from seeds every couple of years although chances are that if you don’t remove the seed heads, volunteer seedlings will pop up in your flower beds in the following spring. While humans appreciate the aromatic foliage of spotted bee balm, deer, rabbits, and other voracious mammals will leave the plant alone because they are put off by the smell. |
| Soil | In its natural habitat, which includes prairies, rocky woodlands, and sandy coastal areas, spotted bee balm grows in dry, even somewhat poor soil in a neutral pH range (6.8-7.2). The soil does not necessarily need to be sandy but good drainage is crucial. |
| Water | Unlike other bee balm species, spotted bee balm does not need watering except when newly planted until it’s established, and during periods of extended drought when its leaves are wilted or start dropping. Otherwise, spotted bee balm is fairly drought-tolerant. |
| Temperature and Humidity | Spotted bee balm is quite adaptable when it comes to temperatures; it grows in a wide range of climate zones. High relative humidity, however, is its enemy. It causes the powdery mildew fungus, a notorious problem with bee balm, to produce more spores and spread. |
| Fertilizer | In its native habitat, spotted bee balm can grow in poor soil. That’s why in a landscape or garden setting, it might not need any fertilizer at all, or at the most a single light feeding with a balanced fertilizer in the spring. If in doubt, it is better to fertilize less or not at all than to over-fertilize, as excess nitrogen can negatively affect flowering. |
| Pruning | Pick bee balm flowers frequently to encourage flower production. Deadheading, or removing spent flowers, will also promote a new flush of blooms. Cut back severely after flowering to encourage new foliage growth. If you want a bushier plant, pinch off the stem tips as new growth appears in the early spring. |
| Overwintering | In late fall, cut the bee balm down to just a few inches (5 to 10 cm.) tall. In cold areas, it may die completely to the ground during the winter but will reappear in the spring. |
| Source | https://www.americanmeadows.com/perennials/bee-balm/bee-balm-beebop-monarda https://www.thespruce.com/spotted-bee-balm-growing-guide-5323120 |