pictures of bee balm flowers

What month does bee balm bloom?

Once established, bee balm is very trouble free and requires very little maintenance. Blooms begin in July and continue until late summer. Deadheading spent blooms will prevent seeds from self-sowing and encourage the plants to continue to flower longer.

Should you Deadhead bee balm flowers?

Pick bee balm flowers frequently to encourage flower production. Deadheading, or removing spent flowers, will also promote a new flush of blooms.

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.

What do you do with bee balm flowers?

Fresh bee balm leaves can be added to pesto, and the flower petals make a pretty and aromatic garnish. They can be used in salads, to make an herbal butter, or in homemade ice cream or a cream cheese spread. Bee balm petals are also a lovely way to dress up fresh fruit or a fruit salad like this one.

Does bee balm like sun or shade?

Culture: Prefers a well-drained site and a rich soil; will not perform well if planted in wet soils. Plant in full sun to partial shade (in warm climates). In partial shade beebalm tends to spread more readily.

Is bee balm toxic to dogs?

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

Is bee balm invasive?

Bee balm propagates by rhizomes, or runners, that spread under the ground to produce new shoots. ... This means your bee balm will eventually be far from where you planted it. So if you are asking the question, “is bee balm invasive,” the answer would be yes, under suitable conditions. Luckily, bee balm is very forgiving.

Is bee balm poisonous?

Edible Parts

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.

What perennials should not be cut back in the fall?

Don't cut back marginally hardy perennials like garden mums (Chrysanthemum spp.), anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum), red-hot poker (Kniphofia uvaria), and Montauk daisy (Nipponanthemum nipponicum).

Is Bergamot the same as bee balm?

Monarda, commonly called bee balm or bergamot, is also known by the names oswego tea and horsemint. ... Bergamot was identified in the sixteenth century by the Spanish medical botanist Nicolas de Monardes, whose name is used to identify this genus of plants.

What is bee balm tea good for?

Hot bee balm infused tea has been used to relieve upper respiratory ailments like colds and flu. It's often used to sooth indigestion, nausea, and menstrual cramps. It has purported anti-septic and anti-microbial properties because it contains a high proportion of thymol, and is used to treat stings, bites, and wounds.

Is Lemon bee balm invasive?

Is Bee Balm Invasive? The Bee balm flower – also referred to as monarda – is relatively easy to grow from seeds, cuttings, and root divisions. In fact, the plant can become invasive and spread every year with the right growing season. This is because it quickly spreads via underground rhizomes.

How do you care for bee balm after flowering?

Once a stem has finished flowering, trim it back down to the ground or pinch it off. This will encourage the plant to send up another blossoming stem. In the fall or winter, you should prune bee balm after it has died back. Take it back down to just above the soil's surface.

How do you harvest bee balm for tea?

When & How To Harvest Bee Balm For Tea

The best time to harvest bee balm for making tea is in the late spring, or early summer before the flowers start to fade. Simply clip or pinch healthy leaves and flowers from the plant. Make sure you only use the healthy green ones though.

Do hummingbirds like bee balm?

Keep the soil surrounding bee balm moist but not soggy. This perennial plant produces vivid cardinal-colored flowers in the summer months. The bright red color of the flowers and the sweet nectar they contain attract hummingbirds in droves.

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.

Do bee balm plants spread?

Division. 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.

What can I plant next to 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.

Is Lavender poisonous to dogs?

Lavender, the plant, does contain a small amount of a compound called linalool, which is toxic to both dogs and cats. The linalool is found in such small concentrations, however, that this is rarely an issue. Problems arise only if a dog ingests a very large quantity of lavender.

Which flowers are toxic to cats?

Plants That Are Toxic to Cats

Spring bulbs.
Amaryllis.
Autumn Crocus.
Azaleas and Rhododendrons.
Castor Bean.
Chrysanthemum.
Daffodils.

Which flowers are poisonous to dogs?

Here are 10 flowers that can pose problems for pets:

CROCUS.
DAFFODILS. ...
AZALEA AND RHODODENDRON. ...
SAGO PALM. ...
TULIPS AND HYACINTHS. ...
DIEFFENBACHIA. ...
LILY OF THE VALLEY. ...
LILIES. There are several species of lilies that are poisonous to both cats and dogs, and they include the Peace, Peruvian, and Calla. ...