Monarda didyma 'Raspberry Wine' - Bee balm
DESCRIPTION
Bee balmMonarda didyma 'Raspberry Wine'
Wine red flowers open from buds that resemble raspberries. A stunning and long flowering perennial that makes a great cut flower and the petals are edible. The flowers' sweet nectar attracts scores of hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees to the garden. The aromatic foliage smells like mint when crushed and is often used to flavor teas. Attractive, dark green foliage exhibits excellent mildew resistance.
BENEFITS
- Attracts Hummingbirds and butterflies
- Deer and rabbit resistant
- Edible flowers, also a great cut flower
- Attracts beneficial insects, birds eat the seed
- Blooms for 4 weeks or more
- Disease resistant
NATIVE INFO
Native Range
Openings and moist thickets; Maine to Michigan south to Ohio and West Virginia, then down the mountains to northern Georgia.
Map Credit: The Biota of North America
Map Key: Green (native), Teal (native, adventive), Blue (present), Yellow (present & rare), Red (extinct)
INTERESTING FACTS
Nectar is an easily digested sugar that provides energy for creatures with high metabolism rates. Did you know the heart rate of a hummingbird is 1,260 beats per minute?
GROWING TIPS
Place in a sunny area with good air circulation. Thin clumps to improve air circulation after several years if they get too crowded. Remove old flower heads the first few weeks plants are blooming to prolong bloom. After that, let flowers go to seed so birds and other creatures can eat the seed. Leave the stems standing in winter to provide homes for beneficial insects.
Mature Size: 30-42in. Tall x 24-30in. Wide
Hardiness Zone: 4-8
Sun Exposure: Full Sun to Light Shade
VIDEO
Coming Soon!Choosing the Right Plants
American Beauties Offer Solution Based Plant Collections to Help you Choose
Quick Tips for Choosing Plants:
- Planting a variety of native trees, shrubs, perennials and vines increases biodiversity and gives wildlife a source for food, cover and nesting
- Choose a mixture of deciduous and evergreen trees so birds and other wildlife will always be able to find shelter
- Plant trees and large shrubs where they will block winter winds from the house and shade it in summer, that will save energy and lower your carbon footprint
- Try your best to buy plants that were grown locally, your independent garden center will be your best bet
- Think about ultimate height and width of the plant you choose, make sure it will fit the space you have for it when it's reached maturity
- Plant nectar plants in groups, to attract butterflies and other beneficial insects more easily
- Ask for help if you need it. Most garden centers either have a landscape designer on staff or they can give you a reference of a designer that is adept at native plant wildlife gardening. There will be upfront costs but they are small when compared to having to redo a landscape that wasn't what you really wanted
Our Plant Tags Hold the Secrets to Success
Choosing the right plants for your garden can seem like a daunting task but we’re here to help. Our horticulturists have spent a considerable amount of time researching and writing our beautiful, American Beauties plant tags to help you be successful. First of all, when you see an American Beauties branded pot at your garden center you can be confident that the plant is native to your area and a responsible choice.
When you look at our tag you’ll find information about the plants natural habitat. That will give you a clue to how it will work in your backyard. For instance if the plant is naturally founded and moist, shade and you have full sun, it’s not the plant for you. The “Features” section gives you an overview or plant description so you’ll know what to expect. While the “Benefits” section talks about the plants strong suits and how the plant will benefit wildlife.
A Special Note About Exposure
Full sun: Prefers six or more hours of direct sunshine a day
Partial shade: Thrives in three to six hours of daily sunshine
Shade: Generally does well with less than three hours of sun per day. Having said that even shade loving plants will struggle in extremely deep shade.
DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES
Best Plants for Bees - Double sided printout for download
Best Plants for Butterflies - Double sided printout for download