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![Monarda didyma Tried and True Native Plant Selections Scarlet Beebalm, Oswego Tea for the Mid-Atlantic The distinctive red flowers of this member of the Mint family attract a variety of pollinators, especially hummingbirds, and offers herbal and medicinal benefits. Native to scattered regions of eastern North America,* it grows along stream banks and in thickets and open woods. Perennial En Masse, Close-up,** Senesced w/ Hummer*** Height: 2–4 feet Spread: 2–3 feet Bloom Color: Red Characteristics Aromatic, clump-forming, herbaceous perennial Opposite, ovate, dark green leaves w/ reddish veins with minty aroma on square, slightly hairy stems**** Showy, bright red bilabiate flowers with tubular corollas clustered in two-inch terminal heads subtended by a whorl of reddish bracts from May to July (or September if deadheaded) Can colonize by rhizomes and spread by seed Attributes Tolerates clay soil, wet soil, Black Walnut, and rabbits; intolerant of dry soil; powdery mildew can be serious problem; deer seldom severely damage Ethnobotanic uses; source of antiseptic thymol, ingredients for tea (dried leaves and flower heads), and salad flavoring (fresh leaves); fit for fresh and dried flower arrangements and potpourri Attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees; larval host to ~12 lepidopterans incl. Orange Mint moth Growing and Maintenance Tips Excellent Replacement for Soil Requirements: Rich, well-drained Lychnis chalcedonica - Maltese Cross Light Requirements: Sun, Partial Shade *In the Mid-Atlantic, it is not native to DC or DE. It occurs mostly in the MD mountains and is present throughout PA. In VA, it is infrequent in the mountains and rare (maybe introduced) in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain. In NoVA, it is not reported in Prince William County. **Discovered near the Blue Ridge Parkway, M. didyma ‘Jacob Cline’ is considered a natural selection of wild bee balm. In trials, ‘Jacob Cline’ “faired quite well against the dreaded powdery mildew” and was “a major hit” with hummers. [From Mt. Cuba Center Puts Nativars to the Test, 2/6/18] ***A ruby-throated hummingbird (upper left quadrant). ****Learn more about Garden Cleanup for Pollinators: Trim Perennial Stems in Their First Winter. Water Requirements: Moist, Wet Prevent powdery mildew with good air circulation; remove mildew stems at base and place in trash Divide every three years to keep within bounds Use in herb, butterfly, native plant, and rain gardens Hardiness: USDA Zones 4a-9b developed by Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia, serving Arlington and Alexandria Images by Elaine Mills, private garden, Arlington, VA and by Mary Free, Quarry Shade and Glencarlyn Gardens](https://i0.wp.com/mgnv.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Monarda_didyma.2026.jpg?resize=612%2C1008&ssl=1)
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Tried and True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic
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Monarda didyma (Scarlet Beebalm, Oswego Tea)
The distinctive red flowers of this member of the Mint family attract a variety of pollinators, especially hummingbirds, and offers herbal and medicinal benefits. Native to scattered regions of eastern North America,* it grows along stream banks and in thickets and open woods.
*In the Mid-Atlantic, it is not native to DC or DE. It occurs mostly in the MD mountains and is present throughout PA. In VA, it is infrequent in the mountains and rare (maybe introduced) in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain. In NoVA, it is not reported in Prince William County. You can view the VA counties in which it has been reported here.