Bee Balm
Monarda fistulosa
- Stay Protected with Plant Sentry ™
Bee Balm - #2 Container is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry™
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Your order is protected by our compliance system that:
- Prevents restricted plants from shipping to your state
- Ensures plants meet your state's agricultural requirements
- Protects gardens from invasive pests and diseases
Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Fast, Safe Plant Delivery
Ships in 3-4 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected
| Under $50 | $9.99 |
| $50 - $99.99 | $14.99 |
| $100 - $149.99 | $16.99 |
| $150+ | $24.99 |
✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee
Understanding Plant Options
Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:
- Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
- Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements
Container Plant Sizes
Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.
Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2" x 2" x 3" | 0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts | 0.20 - 0.23 dry liters |
| 4" Container | 0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts | 0.35 - 0.96 dry liters |
| 4.5" Container | 0.65 dry quarts | 0.72 dry liters |
| 6" Container | 1.4 dry quarts | 1.59 dry liters |
| 1 Quart | 1 dry quart | 1.1 dry liters |
| 5.5" Container | 1.89 dry quarts | 2.08 dry liters |
Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Quart | 2 dry quarts | 2.2 dry liters |
| #1 Container | 2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts | 2.49 - 4.11 dry liters |
| 5" x 5" x 12" | 3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts | 3.85 - 4.74 dry liters |
Mature Plants (2-4 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #2 Container | 1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons | 5.24 - 7.75 dry liters |
| #3 Container | 2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons | 8.14 - 12.16 dry liters |
Large Plants (3-5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #5 Container | 2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons | 12.86 - 20.35 dry liters |
| #6 Container | 5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons | 23.12 - 26.42 dry liters |
| #7 Container | 5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons | 26.34 - 28.76 dry liters |
Bare Root Plants
Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.
Common Sizes:
- Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
- Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet
Important Notes
Container Volume Specifications
- Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
- Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
- Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents
Growing Conditions
- Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
- Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
- Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment
Seasonal Availability
- Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
- Container plants are available throughout the growing season
- Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes
Questions?
For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.
Plant Highlights
Bee Balm highlights at a glance!
Specifications
Specifications
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Brand
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Botanical Name
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Growing Zones
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Mature Height
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Mature Spread
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Sun ExposureFull Sun
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Moisture
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Soil
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Growth RateMedium
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Flower Color
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Fall Color
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Pollinator Friendly
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Pollinator Required
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Fragrant
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Pruning Time
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Bloom PeriodSummer
Growing Zones 3-9
If you love watching beneficial pollinators flutter around your flower garden, then you should try this showy native plant. You will be amazed by how many wonderful creatures visit your yard when you plant this unique and whimsical native wildflower!
Hummingbirds, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators flock to the native Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa) for a nectar fix! Also known as Wild Bergamot, this is a popular and easy-care wildflower to use in the residential landscape! Super, pinky lavender blooms last a long time in the summer and resemble fairy crowns or jester hats!
As a member of the Mint family, you'll want to give it room to spread and create a wonderful display of ethereal fairy flowers - both outdoors and in your bouquets. You'll appreciate the fragrant foliage, too! Hardy throughout USDA growing zones 3 to 9, this herbaceous perennial can grow nearly 4 feet when in bloom and spread up to 2 feet wide.
Planting and Application:
Ideal for open meadows, native wildflower gardens, and sunny prairie plantings in the sun, Cottage gardens, Cut Flower gardens, and Pollinator borders almost require a Bee Balm to be planted in their midst! Add these fancy jester hats to Children's gardens and Sensory Gardens where the aromatic foliage perfumes the air!
Plant several in a zig-zag pattern through the center of a sunny garden bed. This is a relatively fine-textured plant and contrasts beautifully when planted in front of shaggier evergreen shrubs. Pair it with late-season bloomers like Asters and Sedum to continue the floral feast. You might also try this in seasonal containers as an upright "Thriller".
Add seating nearby and bring your camera. You won't want to miss the show as pollinators and hummingbirds arrive to sip the nectar. Have an herbal or medicinal garden? You need this old-world herb for tea and tinctures!
- Showy, Lavender Blooms Like Jester Hats!
- Adored by Beneficial Pollinators
- Great Cut Flowers
- Aromatic Green Foliage - Makes Oswego Tea!
- Wonderful Native Plantings, Wildflower Gardens & Sunny Landscapes
#ProPlantTips for Care:
Be sure to plant perennial Bee Balm in well-drained soil and full sun for the best performance. The foliage needs good air circulation to prevent powdery mildew, and they appreciate the morning sun for the same reason. Highly adaptable and vigorously growing, you can pinch back the young stems to increase branching. Deadhead the spent flowers to encourage a rebloom and prune back the entire plant in the late fall after the frost kills back the tops and remove the leaves and stems to yard waste.
In some areas, this native plant actually does a little "too well". Nature Hills uses Plant Sentry™ to keep any plants that may get into trouble from shipping into those areas and staying up to date with all Federal and State agricultural regulations. Add your Zip Code to the Plant Highlights section to see if we can ship Bee Balm to you.
- Full Sun - Especially Morning Sun
- Any Well-Drained Soil
- Moderate to Low Moisture Needs
- Deadhead After Bloom & Prune Late Autumn
- Hardy & Adaptable Perennial Native Wildflower
This whimsical perennial is a fan and butterfly favorite, so be sure to order your very own native Bee Balm plants today from Nature Hills Nursery before it's too late!
