Bee Balm Plant
Having a garden wherein bees, hummingbirds and butterflies hover over it, is such an enjoyable sight to experience. The secret of attracting these nectar-sucking creatures in your garden is in the plants that you propagate in it. Though there are plenty of plants, which are also attractive to them, the bee balm plant is perhaps one of the most popular.
The bee balm or monarda plants are perennial herbs that belong to the mint family. It grows up to 4 feet high. They have leaves and flowers that are fragrant and can be used for many different purposes. The bee balm flowers or monarda didyma are originally red but now numerous varieties have already existed. Its flower colors also include pink, white and some varieties are in double-flowered form. Of all the bee balm varieties, however, the red bee balm and obedient plants are the most sought after by hummingbirds because they love and are attracted to the color red. This red bee balm variety is common in North America, in most hillsides and grasslands. They only survive on flat terrain and on mountainous regions with elevation of not more than five thousand feet.
A bee balm plant thrives well on heavy clay soils but it can also grow on ordinary garden soil that is moist or damp. It must be planted in a position with partial shade or full sun. The plant has the tendency to spread aggressively and therefore needs to be divided every few years to control it from spreading rapidly. Unfortunately, it is often infected with powdery mildew, which can be controlled by trimming it back to an inch or two above ground level and by burning the infected parts to prevent the disease from spreading to other plants.
The bee balm plant is edible as well as medicinal. Its leaves, flowers and stems are used as a carminative, antiseptic, diuretic, diaphoretic, and stimulant. The flowers can also be used as garnishing in salads to add beauty to its presentation. The plant is also called as Sonoran oregano because its dried leaves can be used as replacements for oregano in cooking. Its crushed leaves, which produce a peppery flavor, can be used to season bean dishes, pasta, pizza and stews. Bee balm is also a source of oil of thyme. Additionally, its dried or fresh leaves are usually brewed to produce fragrant and healing tea. In ancient times, indigenous people throughout America use this plant to make tea for the effective treatment of infections and diseases such as colds, cough, stomachache, fever, and other illnesses.
If you like your garden to have nectar-sucking creatures and at the same time want some herb with health-giving properties, then it is best to ensure the successful propagation of such plant. Based on both the health and natural benefits that we can derive from this plant, it is safe to say that the bee balm plant is one of the most versatile plants anyone can ever have and is therefore a must-have plant in most gardens.