Monarda (Bee Balm)
Color Name: Leading Lady Orchid
'Leading Lady Orchid' behaves like a lady in the garden-she stays where you plant her and doesn't run around. Her blossoms' sweet nectar is highly attractive to butterflies, hummingbirds, and honeybees and her aromatic foliage is naturally deer resistant. She typically blooms from early summer (first week of June in Michigan) into midsummer and grows just a foot tall. Her densely branched, dark green, somewhat glossy foliage is topped with orchid pink blossoms and lighter pink interiors providing a bicolor effect. A fine mist of fuchsia spots appears on the open petals.
Growing Tips: Monarda can be found naturally along riverbanks and enjoys this rich, organic, moist soil. However, it will grow in average soil as well. Full sun is best, but light shade is tolerated. Plants tend to spread more quickly in the shade, however.
Most monardas multiply rapidly either by underground stems or self-sowing. Deadheading spent blooms will prolong the bloom time.
Powdery mildew is a common fungal problem with monarda. Some varieties are more resistant to it than others. To prevent this fungus from appearing, large clumps should be thinned out so that the air circulates freely around them. The soil should also be kept consistently moist; dry soil promotes powdery mildew.
Photo courtesy of Walters Garden, Inc.
'Leading Lady Orchid' behaves like a lady in the garden-she stays where you plant her and doesn't run around. Her blossoms' sweet nectar is highly attractive to butterflies, hummingbirds, and honeybees and her aromatic foliage is naturally deer resistant. She typically blooms from early summer (first week of June in Michigan) into midsummer and grows just a foot tall. Her densely branched, dark green, somewhat glossy foliage is topped with orchid pink blossoms and lighter pink interiors providing a bicolor effect. A fine mist of fuchsia spots appears on the open petals.
Growing Tips: Monarda can be found naturally along riverbanks and enjoys this rich, organic, moist soil. However, it will grow in average soil as well. Full sun is best, but light shade is tolerated. Plants tend to spread more quickly in the shade, however.
Most monardas multiply rapidly either by underground stems or self-sowing. Deadheading spent blooms will prolong the bloom time.
Powdery mildew is a common fungal problem with monarda. Some varieties are more resistant to it than others. To prevent this fungus from appearing, large clumps should be thinned out so that the air circulates freely around them. The soil should also be kept consistently moist; dry soil promotes powdery mildew.
Photo courtesy of Walters Garden, Inc.
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Flower Color: Pink Shades Foliage Color: Green shades
Height: 10 to 14 Inches Spread: 22 to 28 Inches Hardy in Zone: 4 |
Blooms: Summer
Foliage Season: All season |
Exposure
Full Sun
Partial Shade
Soil Moisture Needs
Moderate
Attributes |
 Native  Extended Bloomer  Container Specimen Plant Mass Planting Landscapes Easy to Grow Drought Tolerant Border
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Attracts
Butterflies
Hummingbirds
Critter Resistance
Deer
