Herb of the Month:
Bee Balm

By Virginia McCollum
July 2005

Botanical Name:  Monarda didyma  from the family: Labiatae, Lamiacese
Common Name: Bee Balm, bergamot or sometimes Oswego Tea
General information: Bee balm can be annual, biennial, or perennial. A member of the mint family, it grows on square stems. bee balm effuses a citrus-like fragrance. One of the advantages of growing bee balm is that it will thrive in a variety of soils and light conditions. However, it does best in a sunny location or in part day shade in fertile soil that holds moisture well.
Flowers: Brilliant scarlet flowers bloom clustered in whorls at the top of the stem and grow in two or more tiers; the whole head rests on a collar of red-tinged bracts. However you can choose from among many colors: pink, white, violet, salmon, a mahogany shade, and several shades of red. Choose whatever colors you like, but remember that the scarlet blooming bee balm is special for its ability to attract hummingbirds. Flowering July and August.
Range: Native to North America from Maine to Georgia and west to Michigan and Ontario.
Habitat: Grow is rich, moist hummus soils of thickets, woodlands, and stream banks. Full sun to shade.
Height: 3-4 feet.
History: Native to North America and discovered by the Indians, bee balm's history is briefer than many other herbs. it was discovered in an area of New York now now named Otsego after the tribe that lived there. The Indians brewed bee balm tea to drink for pleasure and for medicinal purposes. When the white settlers cam to the area, they learned of the tea and began brewing it themselves. It became quite popular and during the period of the Boston Tea Party, was drunk in place of black tea. The colonists also admired the beauty of the flower and grew bee balm in their gardens for it ornamental value.
Uses: Bee balm is still widely enjoyed for its beauty and its use. Herbalist recommend an infusion of bee balm for coughs, sore throats, nausea, flatulence, and menstrual cramps. No scientific studies have been done to confirm and of these uses. Modern medicine has not entirely ignored this plant. Scientists have found that the oil extracted from Mondarda didyma and M. punctata contains thymol, which is antiseptic against fungi, bacteria, and some parasites.
Culinary: Few people consider it a culinary herb, but why not use it as such? The taste of bee balm is reminiscent of citrus with a soft mingling of orange and lemon. Use the leaves fresh in cooking or dried in tea blends. Add fresh flowers to salads or use them as garnishes, both for their flower and their brilliant color.
Crafts: The dried flowers can be used in herb wreaths or any dried herb arrangement. Add the leaves and flowers to sachets and potpourris. The entire plant emits a strong and pleasant fragrance. You will enjoy the fragrance and the dried petals will add color to the potpourri.
Propagation: An aggressive spreader, rhizomes can reach over a foot in a season. Propagate by division. Transplants easily, clumps require division every couple of years to maintain vigor. White tends to be the tallest, followed by red, then purple.
Harvesting: When harvesting bee balm, cut it down to within one inch of the ground and soon as the lower leaves begin to yellow. Cutting the plant back immediately after it blooms will usually promote a second flowering in autumn.