Monarda didyma, commonly known as Bee Balm or Bergamot, is a perennial herb and member of the Mint family. Bee Balm is probably most notable not for its bright red flowers that blossom from July to late August, but rather as the source of Oswego tea, which is another of M. didyma's common names.
Bee Balm is a hardy and aromatic plant native to North America. In fact, Bee Balm owes its scientific name to Nicolas Monardes, a Spanish physician and botanist and 16th century chronicler of American flora. The plant's common name of Bergamot is due to its aromatic similarity to the bergamot orange, which is also the source of a famous tea, in this case Earl Grey.
Bee Balm is a clump-forming plant best grown in full sun and moist soil. Its tubular flowers are two-lipped and ragged and usually bright red, though other cultivars display white, pink, and purple blooms. Bee Balm typically grows to about 3 or 4 feet with a nearly equal spread.
Bee Balm is a very useful plant. Along with the medicinal qualities of its tea, its oil is used in perfumery, and the plant itself is grown in herb gardens and in ornamental gardens as a perennial border. Bee Balm will also attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees, lending a lively air to your backyard.
Bee Balm can be invasive, but division every three years will keep it in check. Place root clumps 12 to 15 inches apart. Prune Bee Balm in autumn, and fertilize in spring to encourage growth.