Bee Balm (Monarda) - The Old Farmer's Almanac

Bee balm is a native North American perennial that blooms in summer and lights up the garden with colorful, nectar-rich flowers. Also known as wild bergamot (Monarda), this easy-care plant is beloved by hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, and hummingbird moths—making it a standout choice for pollinator and native plant gardens.

Learn how to plant, grow, and care for bee balm, including tips for preventing powdery mildew and choosing native varieties such as wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa).

About Bee Balm

Bee balm (Monarda spp.), sometimes called bergamot or wild bergamot, is a clump-forming perennial known for its fragrant foliage and showy, tubular flowers that bloom in early to midsummer.

Flowers appear in 2- to 3-inch-wide heads from June through July, with colors ranging from white and pink to red, lavender, and purple. The flowers’ tubular shape makes them especially attractive to long-tongued pollinators, including hummingbirds and native bees. Find more flowers that are great for bees,

Native species—especially wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)—play an important ecological role, supporting pollinators and beneficial insects while thriving in a wide range of soil conditions.

Pollinator Value

In the garden, bee balm is visited most often by hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, and hummingbird moths, all of which can reach the nectar deep inside the tubular flowers. See more flowers to attract butterflies and hummingbirds!

Bumblebees and a few other insects are too big to get into some of the smaller tubular flowers of some bee balms, so the insects practice something called “nectar robbing.” The insects bite small holes at the base of the flowers to reach nectar without pollinating the plant. While fascinating to observe, this behavior does not significantly harm the plant.

After flowering, seed heads attract birds in fall and winter, extending bee balm’s value beyond the growing season. See 12 plants with seed heads for the birds.

Garden Design Use

Growing 2 to 4 feet tall, bee balm works well as a background or mid-border plant in flower beds and native plantings. Its bold flowers pair beautifully with coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, phlox, and ornamental grasses.

Bee balm is especially effective in:

• Pollinator gardens
• Native wildflower gardens
• Cottage-style plantings

Check out this video to learn more about the benefits of growing bee balm: