Why is bee balm called bee balm?

Like other members of this family, the leaves have a minty aroma. The name bee balm derives from the plant's value in attracting native bees and bumblebees, and from common folklore that the crushed leaves could be applied topically to soothe bee stings.

Considering this, does bee balm spread?

Bee balms spread rapidly via underground stems or stolons. In addition, the centers of the clumps often die out within a few years. To control their spread and rejuvenate the plants, it's usually necessary to dig and divide bee balms every 2 to 3 years. Dig up the plants as soon as they emerge from the ground.

Subsequently, question is, should you Deadhead bee balm? As your flowers start to fade, you should deadhead bee balm just above the next flower bud to encourage further flowering. Once a stem has finished flowering, trim it back down to the ground or pinch it off.

Accordingly, is bee balm the same as bergamot?

Bee Balm | Bergamot | Monarda. Monarda, commonly called bee balm or bergamot, is also known by the names oswego tea and horsemint. Bergamot gets its name from the similarity it has in aroma to the bergamot orange (Citrus bergamia). Oil of bergamot comes from the bergamot orange and is used to flavor Earl Grey tea.

What is bee balm good for?

Bee balm is antimicrobial and soothing, so it's often used to treat colds and flu. It also has a soothing effect on the digestive tract and helps to treat indigestion, bloating and nausea.

38 Related Question Answers Found

Does bee balm bloom all summer?

Bee balm begins blooming in early summer and continues through late summer and early fall. As the flowers begin to fade, snip off the blossoms before they form seed heads. This encourages the plants to produce more flowers. It also helps reduce reseeding in the flowerbeds.

Is bee balm poisonous to dogs?

It contains cardiac glycoside, a toxin that can cause severe heart problems in pets. Instead, try: Bee Balm.

Does bee balm die back every year?

The bee balm flower has an open, daisy-like shape, with tubular petals in shades of red, pink, purple and white. Bee balm plants are perennial, coming back year after year to add cheerful color to your garden.

When should I cut down my bee balm?

Cutting Back

You can also cut back the bee balm by half its height in mid-spring before it begins to flower to encourage fuller foliage and more flower buds, but this treatment may delay flowering by a few weeks.

Is bee balm invasive?

Native to the eastern portion of North America, bee balm flowers, which bloom in mid to late summer, has many uses. In fact, the plant, which is a member of the mint family, can become so invasive that you will be forced to find methods to eradicate it because bee balm quickly spreads via underground rhizomes.

What grows well with bee balm?

Bee balm adds color and height to an herb garden and should be planted near the center of the garden surrounded by your preference of shorter herbs grown as annuals, such as basil, thyme, chives and parsley.

Does bee balm smell like oregano?

Most of the year Bee Balm blends in with the other simple green low growing plants with opposite leaves. But once you smell it, there is no mistaking it for another plant. Simply crush or rub the leaves and a wonderful scent of oregano with hints of mint and thyme is released.

Why did my bee balm die?

Hot temperatures coupled with low humidity or dry conditions can cause drooping and wilting in many plants, including bee balm. Heat causes the leaves to lose water through transpiration, especially in dry conditions. Temperatures above 86 degrees Fahrenheit can be a problem, and at 95 degrees the flowers can die.

Is bee balm toxic?

Bee balm grows from 2 to 4 feet tall and can grow in shade or in sunlight. This plant is non-toxic to dogs.

Is wild bergamot poisonous?

The toxicological effects of thymol include gastric pain, nausea, vomiting, convulsions, and external rashes, although there have been no reports of toxic ingest plants or extracts of the Monarda species (11.1-136, 14.1-35). Wild bergamot, Monarda fistulosa L., is a perennial herb native to the eastern United States.

What is wild bergamot used for?

Medicinal use of Wild Bergamot:

An infusion is used internally in the treatment of colds, catarrh, headaches, gastric disorders, aching kidneys, to reduce low fevers and soothe sore throats. Externally, it is applied as a poultice to skin eruptions, cuts etc and as a wash for sore eyes.

Where does bee balm grow best?

Bee balm grows in a clump with 3-foot tall stalks. Most bee balm varieties are perennials and will grow in average to well-drained soil in full sun. You can grow bee balm from seed, but it establishes quicker when planted from divisions from a friend's garden or purchased plants from your local garden center.

What does bergamot smell like?

Like other citrus fruits, bergamot has a distinctive, heady fragrance and flavor. The fragrant oil is used to make perfumes, colognes, scented soaps, and of course, it gives Earl Grey tea its signature flavor and aroma. The flesh tastes the same way it smells: tart, acidic, highly fragrant, and spicy.

Is bee balm edible?

The leaves of wild bee balm are edible raw or cooked. They are also used as a flavoring in salads and cooked foods. The flowers make an attractive edible garnish in salads. Fresh or dried flowers and (or) leaves can be brewed into an aromatic tea.

Is Bergamot related to lavender?

Long prized by Native Americans as an herbal remedy and garnish, sprinkled on meats and in beverages, lavender bergamot (also known as wild bergamot, or Monarda fistulosa) is a native plant in the mint family, characterized by square stems and leaves that sit exactly opposite each other along the stem.

What does bee balm taste like?

M. fistulosa is wild bee balm. Its flowers are lavender-pink and it's sometimes called wild bergamot. Both plants are members of the mint family and have a strong herbal flavor that closely resembles that of oregano.

What is the Latin name for bee balm?

Monarda