All about Monarda didyma
by Timothy Kane
One of the signature native plants for the eastern garden, Monarda didyma, is a plant of many common names including beebalm, bergemont and Oswego tea to name a few. To the numerous pollinators that are attracted to it and the various insects that depend on it as a host plant, its name is unimportant. For them, its presence is all that matters.
It is a presence that can’t be minimized in the garden. Its large, round, mounding form with distinctive square stems is loaded with deep green foliage that is bursting with minty fragrance. Domed buds top stems in June and open later in the month to reveal rounded, 2 to 4” diameter clusters of red tube-like flowers that continue to bloom throughout July. Beeblam’s 30-36” tall and wide footprint, ensures a massive presence of summer color that is attractive, long lasting and noticeable not just for you.
A Haven for Native Bees, Butterflies, and Moths
Native bees like bumblebees are attracted to its bloom in droves along with honeybees seeking its ample nectar. Butterflies and moths also float by in considerable numbers for its nectar banquet while hummingbirds love it for its nectar and its red colored bloom.
A few moths literally can’t live without this plant. The Orange Mint Moth, Hermit Sphinx Moth, Gray Marvel Moth and the Pyralid Moth are each hosted by Monarda didyma with the immature form, or larval stage, of each of these moths dependent upon this plant for food. Without the ability for these larvae to eat the foliage of this plant, these native moths would not be able to complete their lifecycle. As such, it is a crucial plant for any gardener to use if their goal is to support native pollinators.
Monarda didyma is easy to grow in full sun or partial shade. It loves moist soils, in fact, it is one of the premier rain garden plants you can install with its ability to thrive in wet soils. It is, also, deer resistant.
The Legacy of Oswego Tea
The most common natural selection of this plant you can find on the market is Monarda didyma ‘Jacob Cline’, a plant that boasts larger, slightly redder flowers
and foliage that is more mildew resistant. No matter if you grow ‘Jacob Cline’ or the straight species, you will find it to be a summer garden star that adds so much color to the garden via flower and critter power!
Now about one of those common names for this plant outlined earlier. Oswego Tea seems like a crazy name for this plant until you consider that the Oswego tribe, based in New York state, traditionally used the leaves of this plant native to their locale to make a tea that was used extensively. They passed on the knowledge of making this tea to the settlers that came to this area and the name stuck for the plant itself.