About This Plant
As part of the Mint family, bee balm has a minty smell when the leaves are crushed, and some people make a tea from its leaves, hence its alternate common name: Oswego tea. It spreads via rhizomes and can form colorful colonies. Bee balm has a square stem that supports long tubular florets that, together, look like fireworks. Great for home gardens, scarlet bee balm is a hummingbird magnet, and some songbirds will eat its seed. It likes moist soil, so consider it for rain gardens. It is prone to powdery mildew, but dividing and increasing air flow should help.
Plant Details
Environment
Attributes
- Plant Types
- Maximum Plant Width
- Peak Bloom Seasons
- Leaf Retentions
- Growth Rates
- Mature Plant Heights
- Bloom Colors
- Bloom Times
- Additional Features
Benefits
- Wildlife Benefits
Plant Facts
The plant resins from Scarlet Bee Balm have been used to soothe bee stings.
Alternate Names
Bee Balm, Bergamot, Bee Balm Tea Plant, Fragrant Balm, Hare Mint, Lad’s Love, Low Balm, Mountain Mint, Oswego Tea, Robin-run-around, Rose Balm, Sweet Bergamot, Beebalm, Crimson Bee-balm, Horsemint
