(Whether you are new to growing your own food or have been growing a vegetable garden for years, you will benefit from some planning each year. The Native Americans used poultices made from the leaves of the plant for skin infections and minor wounds, and as a tea for mouth and throat infections caused by dental issues and gingivitis. Whether you call it bee balm, monarda, bergamot, or Oswego tea, this plant is a sure bet for bringing pollinators to the garden. 5 Ways to Use Bee Balm by Homespun Seasonal LivingThe quickest way to dry bee balm is by using a dehydrator. Or you can pluck the leaves and petals from the stalks, spread them out on a screen and allow them to dry naturally away from dust and sunlight. Monarda didyma, the crimson beebalm, scarlet beebalm, scarlet monarda, Oswego tea, or bergamot, is an aromatic herb in the family Lamiaceae, native to eastern North America from Maine west to Ontario and Minnesota, and south to northern Georgia.
The genus name Fading Gold: The Decline of Aspen in the WestBeebalms are coarse herbs and many gardeners have a love-hate relationship with because of their ability to spread by seed throughout a flowerbed and their susceptibility to succumb to powdery mildew in humid climates. Bless youMonarda is a popular perennial plant used in bee and butterfly gardens. The plant grows in dense clusters with striking red flowers that bloom on 3-foot high stems in mid to late summer.
CHECK AVAILABILITY. Sold Out. Butterflies and hummingbirds love this easy-to-grow perennial thanks to its bold hue and intense fragrance. The name, “Oswego tea,” is originated from the Native Americans living near the present-day city of Oswego in upstate New York who showed early settlers how to make an herbal tea from the leaves of the plant. 1.0 out of 5 stars 1. Prized for their bright scarlet flowers, red bee balm plants are herbaceous perennials.
In summer, they are topped by showy rounded clusters of red to purplish tubular flowers. The chance of becoming infected with powdery mildew can be lessened by growing in full sunlight and pruning within the clump to increase airflow. Vigorous growth and a long bloom time also make this plant a standout in any garden setting. Monarda is a popular perennial plant used in bee and butterfly gardens. A lot of my bee balm has powdery mildew on its leaves. Gardenview Scarlet Bee Balm Bushy 3-foot plants bloom for weeks and multiply quickly.
( is an in-depth program geared towards students interested in becoming clinical herbalists.Plant Guide for scarlet beebalm (Monarda didyma)Each variety of bee balm has a slightly different flavor. The dense flowering heads turn from green to brown when ripe. Beebalm has a long history of use as a medicinal plant by many Native Americans, including the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive FoundationArticles with unsourced statements from November 2011Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike LicenseThis plants attracts hummingbirds and is a larval host to the hermit sphinx, orange mint moth, and the raspberry pyrausta.https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Monarda_didyma&oldid=975485470Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West, Gregory L. Tilford, Crimson beebalm is extensively grown as an World Checklist of Selected Plant Families Once dry, store leaves lightly packed in a glass jar away from direct sunlight. However, the Native American tribes of Eastern North America and Canada used Monarda didyma medicinally for centuries before Nocholas Monardes studied the plant.
Monarda also has a long history of medicinal uses by Native American tribes, American Eclectic physicians, the Shakers, and herbalist. I find the flavor of tea made from Monarda didyma to be rather strong.
95. Gather the stalks by their stems, tie the ends, and hang to dry. They are a premiere nectar plant and should be included in anyone's Pollinator-Friendly Best Management PracticesRecreation, Heritage And Volunteer ResourcesTall Forb Community of the Intermountain WestThe spectacularly scarlet showy flower cluster of scarlet beebalm is a wonderful delight to hikers who commonly encounter this native wildflower in shady woods generally along stream banks and thickets.