Monarda, Bee Balm, Beebalm, Bergamot, Firecracker Plant, Oswego Tea 'Blue Stocking'

Nice violet color blooms. Quite a bit of mildew, starting in August in my Zn 5 garden, but I do overhead water. Also quite invasive in ...Read Moregood soil, although easily yanked out with a tug.

I planted my blue stockings in part shade near where the hose comes out of the house because it tends to leak. Given that Monardas prefer...Read More lots of water, they've done quite well.

They're also suceptible to powerdery mildew in early fall, which is a bit of a bummer, but the flowers are worth it.

One day in the garden, there was a sudden rainstorm. I looked to see that bumblebees were clinging to the underside of the blooms to escape the rain. It was cute as the dickens.

The flowers are a blue-lavender color. Here is zone 6 it blooms late June-July. It's 3' tall in my clay soil and partial sun. It spreads ...Read Moreabout 8" out in all directions, but is easily dug in the spring. When it's done blooming, I cut it all the way back to the ground. The new foliage it puts out at ground level does not get mildew.

Like all bee balms, it attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. The plants are fragrant, and the flowers are good for cutting.

When dividing the plant in the spring, disturb the roots as little as possible or it will not bloom that year.