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Bee Balm
for Hummingbirds
(Monarda)

Bee Balm for hummingbirds is available in many varieties and colors.
The Scarlet Bee Balm is most preferred by hummingbirds. The spiky red and scarlet clusters beautify our gardens and the hummingbirds certainly enjoy them.

One of the first things we noticed after planting was the minty aroma of the leaves. Moranda is in the mint family and anyone can use the leaves to brew a unique and refreshing tea.

This plant is easy to grow and requires little maintenance. We love our Monarda and enjoy watching our hummingbirds hover around one of their favorite plants.

Bee Balm in our hummingbird perennial garden.

How to plant Bee Balm for Hummingbirds

  1. Consider your planting zone. We live in Zone 4 and it grows well here. This nectar rich flower grows in Zones 4-9.
  2. Remember sun requirements. Plant in full sun to partial shade.
  3. Plan your garden and think about the height of the variety you grow. Varieties range for 1 to 4 feet tall. If you are planting a Hummingbird Flower Garden, plant the tallest varieties in the back.
  4. We recommend that you think about soil requirements. It prefers a well drained soil but a special feature of this plant is its’ ability to grow in moist soil.
  5. Jim and I always allow for good air circulation around our plants to prevent an attack of Powdery Mildew.
  6. We like to stimulate a second flowering by dead heading (cutting off the flower bud right after they have finished blooming). It’s nice to have more flowers. Also, this can be great for hummingbirds who need to bulk up for migration. Having this extra available nectar is just what they need later in the summer when the second blooming will occur.
  7. Bee Balm can be invasive. So about every 3 years, you can divide your plants in the spring and fall . We often find ourselves adding them to another garden. We find that good friends and relatives appreciate receiving them as a gift. We like to think that this is also a gift for hummingbirds too. They will soon have more nectar in another garden.

While there are more than enough hummingbirds and habitat, food supply is diminishing for these beautiful creatures. So we always encourage our friends, neighbors, and relatives to plant a hummingbird garden.

If you use fertilizers on your perennial garden, we recommend organic fertilizers since chemical fertilizers especially sprays can be harmful to hummingbirds.

Another great hummingbird attracting flower is the Phlox.

Visit the Planting Zone Section to see a list of hummingbird attracting flowers that will grow in your area.

Happy gardening for hummingbirds!

Here are a couple favorite "Bee Balm for Hummingbirds":

SUGAR BUZZ CHERRY MONARDA

Sugar Buzz Cherry Bee BalmSugar Buzz Cherry Bee Balm

Monarda are among our most favorite flowering plants. Plants grow to a height of 2-4 feet and are covered with blooms summer to early fall. Flowers produce a sweet nectar that is highly attractive to both hummingbirds and butterflies. Prefers to be planted in full sun, but we have had luck with only morning sun as well. 

The tubular flowers are held in dense, terminal clusters. Each flower has both an upper and lower lip, which makes it very attractive to those helpful pollinators we all want to support.

This clear red is a fantastic choice, too. Hummingbirds can't get enough of this color!


BUY Sugar Buzz Cherry Monarda

SUGAR BUZZ GRAPE MONARDA

Sugar Buzz Grape Bee BalmSugar Buzz Grape Bee Balm

With sturdy, square-shaped and upright stems, Grape Bee Balm won't droop or sag. The plant develops a nice branching structure and a pert, rounded form.

It blooms a long time in summer, and the lush, dark green foliage fills out all the way to the ground. You'll love it's spicy-sweet fragrance when the leaves are crushed!

For a real treat, cut some of the wonderfully intricate blooms for indoor arrangements. Plant plenty of Grape Gumball in your cutting garden, so you can share with the hummingbirds.

Richly colored, tubular flowers are held in dense, terminal clusters. Because the flower has both an upper and lower lip, it is a very attractive nectar resource.

Hummingbirds, honeybees and butterflies can't get enough of these vibrant magenta blooms!


BUY Sugar Buzz Grape Monarda

Visit Our Flower Shop for a Long List of
Hummingbird Attracting Flowers to Buy!

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