Grow Bee Balm Flowers for Late Summer Blooms

The Bee Balm flower a native perennial in North America is commonly called horsemint, Monarda, and wild bergamot. This plant is in the mint family and has a unique white, pink, purple or red flower that blooms in mid to late summer.

The entire bee balm plant is very fragrant, the leaves, stems, and flowers have a mint/oregano aroma. So if you enjoy fragrant flowers then I would recommend that you grow bee balm close to your outdoor living space.

I have red and purple bee balm growing close to my garden path and flagstone patio. Butterflies and hummingbirds find the bee balm to be attractive and we enjoy watching the wildlife.

Here are some photographs of bee balm

 flowers that grow in the garden.

The bee balm in this photo has powdery mildew 

due to excessive rain in June.

Bee balm growing wild in a field

My bee balm flowers bloom at the end of June and continue to bloom through August provided I deadhead all spent blooms. In late summer I will not deadhead because the seed heads provide a source of food for the sparrows and finches during the fall to the winter season.

Bee Balm Growing Tips

1. Grow from seed, cuttings, and root divisions.
2. Plant in spring or in late summer / early fall
3. Choose a planting area that has ample area for this plant to grow and spread. Grow plants 20 inches apart in loamy soil that is slightly acidic. Soil should be moist but well-drained.
4. Plant in full sun, however, this plant will tolerate part sun in the late afternoon as long as it has six hours of direct sun daily.
5. Grow bee balm in an area that has good air circulation. Avoid planting next to a wall or a wooden fence as these structures will prevent proper airflow and powdery mildew will form on leaves and stems. Excessive watering will also cause powdery mildew.
6. Water plants to prevent soil from drying out.
7. The bee balm is hardy in the USA growing zone 3.4.5,6,7,8,9

Care and Maintenance

1. Fertilize in the spring and weekly with a bloom booster flower food. I use Miracle-Gro a water-soluble weekly throughout the blooming season.
2. Apply a layer of mulch around the stem to help to retain moisture and to prevent weed growth.
3. Water plants to prevent soil from drying out. Soil that is moist but well-drained is best.
4. After a hard frost cut back the flower stems to 2 inches above the soil. (or leave seed heads throughout winter for the birds.
5. In spring when plants start to grow check your plants for overcrowding. Divide and transplant when needed or every two years.
6. If not maintained in your garden this plant can become invasive.

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Grow the Liatris Blazing Star

Grow the Liatris along the back border of your garden or grow this plant in a wildflower or prairie garden. I grow the purple blazing star in my wildflower garden. I did a mass planting of 200  flowers and find that this Missouri native is very eye appealing when it blooms in July and August.

The foliage of the Liatris is attractive as it has grass-like appearance. This plant grows in a clump, and produces upright stems to the height of 36 inches. When the stems are fully-grown, a purple flower will appear. The flower blooms from the top and works its way downward in sections.

The  flower has no fragrance, however; it does attract butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard and garden. Cut the  flowers and add to your floral arrangements. You can also allow the flowers to dry out and then add to your fall wreathes, swags and centerpieces.

Decide when you would like to plant the Liatris blazing star flower. This flower may be planted in the spring or the fall. If you decide on a spring planting then do so after the last spring frost, or plant in the fall six to eight weeks prior to frost.

Select a garden section that has full sun and dry to moderate soil that is well drained. Clear the garden area by removing the grass and weeds then loosen the soil and break up the clumps so that the soil is a fine texture.  Dig a hole that is the same depth as the nursery container.  Set the Liatris in the center of the hole and backfill the soil.  Water well.

Tips:

• Keep the garden free of weeds.
• Apply mulch to help retain moisture and to aid as a weed deterrent. 
• Fertilize in the spring with Miracle Gro fertilizer all purpose plant food 
• Start flower seeds indoors 8 weeks before the last spring frost.  Transplant outdoors after the threat of frost has past.   It is easy to grow from seeds.  You can also sow the seeds directly into the garden.  Do so after spring frost when the soil warms to an average of 78 degrees.