Homegrown Habitat, July 2024: Beebalms
At this time of year you can expect hummingbirds to visit the flowers of scarlet bergamot. Photo by Joe Schneid, Louisville, Kentucky – Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6691558
July 22, 2024 — These three species of beebalm seem to have been made specifically for hummingbirds, although they often have to share them with many other pollinators. Their flowers can last into October, which means there’s plenty of time for the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds that are fledging now, and those that will be migrating in the fall, to find them and feast on the nectar. Sarah Middeleer explains how and where to plant them. Do you grow any of these beebalms? Share your experiences by writing to homegrown@ctaudubon.org
During these steamy summer days hummingbirds are especially hopeful for the nourishing nectar in flowers that are suitable for them. The Monarda genus, in the mint family, contains many such flowering perennials, all of which attract bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, hummingbird moths and other moths, and several specialized bees. But due to their pungent taste and fragrance, they deter deer and rabbits.
Here we’ll look at three of these native wildflowers because they are the ones most likely to be found for sale, either as plants or seed. They share the common name beebalm (which suggests their traditional use to soothe bee stings), so it’s helpful to know their Latin names.
Monarda dydima, known most commonly as scarlet beebalm, is a true standout in July and August with its fragrant, brilliantly crimson flowers. Its tubular petals, arranged at the top of the stalk in an exuberant radial display, are perfectly engineered for hummingbirds, but they also attract large butterflies like swallowtails. It grows two to four feet high and prefers consistently moist, rich soil in full sun or part shade.
Scarlet beebalm can be aggressive, forming colonies both from rhizomes and seed dispersal. However, that’s when it is most attractive to hummingbirds — when it’s grown in masses. You can control self-sowing by cutting the plants back after flowering. Planting a bed of scarlet beebalm where it is edged by pavement or a similar hard edge might also be helpful,
Powdery mildew can be a problem on beebalm in gardens where the air circulation is poor. So try to site it in full sun with lots of air movement around it, and minimize stress to the plant by watering it in dry times. Also consider scarlet beebalm for rain gardens and natural areas. Combine it with other vigorous perennials like Canada anemone, blue false indigo, purple coneflower, New York asters, and golden Alexanders.
Other common names for scarlet beebalm include Oswego tea, for the way the Oswego tribe used the leaves, and bergamot, for the fragrance’s resemblance to bergamot orange. The leaves are still used today for teas and salads, and one author describes the flowers as a “choice edible,” offering flavors of thyme, rose, and citrus.
Monarda fistula has been called one of the six most important herbs used by Native Americans. Photo by Jasper Shide – Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=149315683
Monarda fistulosa, also known as wild or Eastern bergamot, prefers dryer soils such as those in fields, dry rocky woods, and alongside roads and railways. This clumping perennial also grows two to four feet high.
The flower form is similar to that of its red-headed cousin, but the color is a deep pinkish-lavender. The pink, leafy flower bracts are also showy. Flowers appear from August to October.
Wild bergamot prefers full sun but can grow in part shade. It tolerates poor soils, including clay, and is drought tolerant. It can be grown in many garden locations, but as with scarlet beebalm, try to ensure good air flow to avoid powdery mildew.
The aroma and flavor of wild bergamot’s leaves have been described as reminiscent of thyme and oregano; as the leaves mature, they become spicy. It has been called one of the six most important herbs used by Native Americans.
Monarda punctata, known as dotted or spotted beebalm, horsemint or spotted horsemint, also commonly appears in sunny, dry areas (although it will tolerate part shade), including fields, rocky woods, and coastal plains. It has a preference for sandy soils and would be appropriate in the seaside garden.
Spotted beebalm attracts many pollinators, including carpenter bees. By Rhododendrites – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=63286497
Although it spreads by runners to form colonies, it is not thought to be extremely aggressive — perhaps because it is a short-lived perennial or biennial. It grows 18 inches to 24 inches tall.
Its fragrant flowers, which appear July to September, are composed of yellowish, purple-spotted rosettes of tubular flowers above showy, purple-and-white leaf-like bracts. They are stacked pagoda-like along the upper stem. These flowers are said to last well in vases. Oval nutlets form in the fall.
Spotted beebalm is the host plant for the gray marvel and snout moths.
Like the two beebalms described above, spotted beebalm has many medicinal uses.
Sources
Books
Jared Rosenbaum, Wild Plant Culture A Guide to Restoring Edible and Medicinal Native Plant Communities, New Society Publishers, 2023
Websites
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/monarda-punctata/
https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=q250
