I read somewhere that bee balm is in the mint family and will spread by runners. You might want to wait until the babies get a little bigger before trying to transplant them, though.

Janet

Thx Janet I was wondering if it was runner.Ill wait till they bigger.

Angie

I also planted Bee Balm last year and it did not flower. It did make a beautiful plant though. This year it is returning and I hope it will make flowers this year. Is there a trick to making it flower? Does it like rich or poor soil. This plant I have planted in my most rich bed. I have pleanty of room to move it.

I planted mine in morning sun thought it might be to hot here in to much sun might be why mine didnt bloom here is a pic is this bee balm seedlings.
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Angie, This is kind of off topic but I am curious about those brown leaves in your picture. Do you know what kind of tree they came off of? I was wondering because I don't think I've ever seen any around here like that.

Oak tree.

Angie, I purchased 2 bee balm plants last fall. They didn't do very well but filled in the pots with what I thought were weeds. I let them grow just to see. They look like yours. The new leaves look like the old ones. So it must be new plants coming up. I put one of mine in the ground yesterday and am going to do the other one today. I think we're good and have nice healthy bee balm.

Hope

I hope it is bee balm .I think Im ganna try to put some in full sun this year mine didnt flower last year might not be enought sun it only got morning sun .

That picture is definitely Monarda. I don't think you need to worry about it - it looks very healthy and lush. If Monarda is happy (full-part sun, moist, rich soil) it is quite aggressive once it's established. It spreads by both runners and from seedlings.

I have a patch of red Bee Balm that I started 2 years ago from a few transplants. This will be its 3rd year and this patch is really getting huge. I am going to have to thin it out heavily this year.

They are runners.

It takes a while for it to get established. It should bloom beautifully for you this year, Angie. Make sure that it is mulched well with a soaker hose underneath. They appreciate extra water. It's better to water from below, as opposed to overhead watering, as some types are more prone to powdery mildew.

"Jacob Kline" variety is better about not getting powdery mildew. Be sure to deadhead the old blooms for an extended bloom. But, mine seem to putter out when it starts getting hot.

Thx linda I sure hope I get some flowers this year have no clue what color they are.

I have some Jacob's Cline Bee balm in morning sun and it blooms for me every year. I planted some Monarda Didyma from seed partial sun and it has never bloomed for me.

Both my jacob cline and my clare grace go crazy for water. they grow thicker next to the soaker hose. one is in partial shade (filtered light through wild cherry) and one is mostly sun. I do not have the wild bergamot(didyma?) any more, it took over everything and had far less bloom than leaves. BTW the butterflies preferred the pinky clare grace to the red, jacob cline.

Butterflyalley - Jacob Kline is a cultivar of Monarda didyma - the red Bee balm. 'Claire Grace' is a cultivar of Monarda fistulosa - a lavendar/purply Monarda whose common name is Wild bergamot. It will supposedly tolerate drier conditions than Monarda didyma.

I bought some 'Claire Grace' last spring from Bluestone, it bloomed but they were fairly small. Can't wait to see how they look this Spring and what they attract!

I just bought a 'Peter's Purple' Monarda according to the link below it is a cultivar of Clair Grace. I already have the Jacob Kline, so I can't wait to see if they prefer Peters over Jacobs in my garden also. I haven't noticed any butterfly activity on Jacobs Kline.

Here is a link that might be useful: Peters Purple Monarda