Balm 'Royal Velvet Distinction'

Just bought one so I am still learning this plant. The tag of this plant I bought said it is for usda zones 5-9. I am in zone 6. I hop...Read Moree it can be as hardy as the tag says.

As of April 2017 I have my Melittis growing for its 3rd year. I grow mine in partial shade. I have it in two places to be sure I had it...Read More in the correct light. One is getting more direct sun than the other which is under a rose and late blooming lilac.
I just love this little plant. It is true like a clematis it takes a few years to settle in. Every year pops up in spring and is bigger and taller. The flowers are so beautiful. This year I am going to try to take a few cuttings. I read you must take cuttings early before the stems become hollow. I bought seeds and am trying to germinate them. If you can find it I highly recommend Melittis for total enjoyment!
It does disappear like a bleeding heart but later in the summer and do mark its space so you do not dig it up by accident. It will surprise you when it appears with its small furry leaves emerging in the spring.

I really like this plant, and grow it in a mixed bed with full sun here in the Pacific Northwest. This was the first year that it made an...Read Morey seedlings. I also collected some seed, and my online research says it should be sown fresh. So I'm going to try some. If they don't germinate, I'll leave them over the winter.

Hardier than listed here, to at least 6 and some sources claim throughout zone 5. It has survived in Chicago for several years. The most ...Read Moreimportant aspect to this plant is that it thrives in dry shade and takes heat and drought (once established). I do, however, recommend a little pampering at first. I lost a plant via a squirrel digging right on to of it. Newly emerging plants in Spring are somewhat delicate, so having a nice robust clump is a boon to ensuring a good flower display. Another attribute of this plant is it's lemon scented leaves (when bruised or crushed.) it is monotypic, the only one of its genus.

P.S. The common name is not "balm" thousands upon thousands of plants are called one strife "balm" or another. It's real common name is "Bastard Balm." Perhaps whoever wrote this description was too polite to list it's full name. Perhaps it gets this name because it is monotypic?