Bee Balm Several Questions

15 years ago

Hi everyone!! I am in 5B IL.

I purchased Monarda Gardenview Scarlet Bee Balm a Couple of Days ago and have several questions.

I am going to placing it in the bed of the picture below, once I get the grass killed out and the ground level. The area gets a little direct afternoon sunlight and some dappled sunlight thruout the day, but none in the am. The bed is about 10 x 12 ft. The Bee Ball will sit in the far left of the bed.

My questions are:

Can I buy a HUGE pot, cut a hole in the bottom, put the Bee Balm in it and bury it in the ground to keep it from spreading real bad? Will that work.

Powerdy Mildew: I heard that this plant is famous for having it. What are some preventative ways of keeping this at bay without using something that will hurt for wildlife.

Do I cut it down to the ground in fall? Do I wait until all the leaves are brown and dead before cutting if cutting is necessary.

How long does this plant bloom.

What are a few companion plants that look great with this to place in front of it. Red is not a favorite color of mine, but this will be focal for hummingbirds and this plot will be also. I love purples, yellows and whites and maybe a little pink.

I thought about tickseed, which some hybrids call for sun, part sun, but the one I liked best I thought the foilage would not blend well with the leaves of the Bee Balm.

I could not find any purples for the sunlight the area receives.

Not a real sunny area, so I know this will be a problem.

Is there a drawf purple bee balm??

So sorry so many questions......I just want to do some things right this year, I have failed so many times....

Thank you everyone for your time :)

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Comments (7)

gracie01 zone5 SW of Chicago
15 years ago
Hi, I'm also in your zone & I've found that bee balm needs FULL sun to do well, otherwise it will flop and you will not get many flowers. You need to treat this area as a shade bed, not a sunny bed. Go to the gardening in shade forum and you will get good advice.
maozamom NE Ohio
15 years ago
Without morning sun to dry the dew off the leaves you'll have a mildew problem
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Hello carol6ma and digginthedirt! Thanks for your feedback. Diggin, the situation is a disappointment! Well said. So, I think you may be on to something when you mention the soil prep. I probably didn't do much other than dig a 2ft x 2ft hole and like I mentioned, threw some compost, and usually a little bone meal if I have it on hand. Yes, the bee balm and veronica are in a bed and most everything else in it is happy. That would include, some day lilies, several Clematis, a rose, a lace cap Hydrangea, Rudebekia, Phlox, Obedient Plant and Lupine. Although, I did have a Shasta Daisy and a Penstemon that didnt make it past season one. I'm thinking drainage may be my issue. If that is the case, could I dig up the bee balm, and sort of "fix" the hole with sand and more rocks, and replant? Same with the Veronica? I really like both of those plants, so I'm hoping to find a solution to keep them. But to be honest, I dont really notice clay in my soil and usually find that it is rich, brown and full of fist sized rocks. (that are quite difficult to remove!) As for the Russian Sage, it is located at the top of the hill in our pool area, which I imagine was created when all the dirt was removed from the hole dug for the pool. Its quite dry up there, and has been a challenge for me to grow much, except for Tiger Lilies. My mom politely reminded me that they'll grow in an empty ditch...so that doesn't say much. That is why I added the compost when planting the sage. But perhaps its a matter of right plant, wrong spot. I will send off a soil sample as you suggested. I imagine it will offer some great insight to my dilemna(s)! Thanks again, Tulipsmiles Thanks again to you both!
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sinai
15 years ago
Just my opinion based on my vast experience of making every mistake imaginable.....:)
First I don't think putting it in a pot in the ground is necessary, they are shallow rooted and easily removed......

2 when planting give it plenty of room.....not familiar with your cultivar but I grow 'Jacob Cline' and its mildew resistant but from what I've seen ain't none of them mildew proof.....

3. When it quits flowering and looks kinda ragged you can cut it down to the crown and it will put out new growth, may or may not rebloom....but if it does rebloom the blooms are low and few..

4.I grow a yellow crocosmia in front of bee balm to hide its hideous legs after the blooms start to wind down or it gets mildew.....the foliage of 'George Davidson' crocosmia is great in itself and for hiding the bee balm legs......Good luck I love bee balm as you can see....i got 4 stands of it scattered around......

Paul from Alabama

Here is a link that might be useful: Jacob Cline bee balm
oldroser
15 years ago
Years ago I planted Cambridge Scarlet in an area with part sun. It has done fine though I have to admit it's moved arond a bit. Was interested to see this spring that the biggest clump has moved further into the shade. I don't mind its rambling habits and expect it needs fresh soil or tends to die out. The hummingbirds love it. And incidentally, though this variety is famous for mildew, the plants which are down near the stream have never been bothered by it. It does get quite a bit late afternoon sun.
vera_eastern_wa
15 years ago
I have the same Monarda giving to me by another gw member. It spreads pretty good in no time, but like mentioned it is very shallow rooted and runners are easily pulled back to the main plant pretty easily. I know as I just gathered up a bunch and sent to another GW member last week :)

BTW Powdery Mildew is inhibited/killed by water; Downy Mildew (and other fungi)on the other hand LOVE to grow in free moisture on the leaves.
a2zmom_Z6_NJ
15 years ago
I grow my Monarda in dappled sunlight, under the branches of a beech tree. It does fine. As many have mentioned it's very shallow rooted - it fact I currently have a stalk rooted into some cedar mulch and not into the soil! It likes it somewhat moist as far as soil goes.

My biggest problem is not mildew, but the horsemint moth which ruined every blossom I had last year.

Here's a picture from 2006 - it's paired with Echinecea "Magnus"

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:225111}}
hostaholic2 z 4, MN
15 years ago
Monarda Petite Delight is a short lavender-pink with dark green crinkled foliage. I have had it for about 7 or 8 years. It has never had powdery mildew, it does not flop and does not run rampantly, the clump spreads but does not run.

Bee Balm Several Questions

Comments (7)

gracie01 zone5 SW of Chicago

maozamom NE Ohio

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