Part herb, part ornamental beauty, bee balm was revered by the American Indians for its healing properties. But it wasn't until the late 18th century that the European colonists began their love affair with this versatile plant. After the Boston Tea Party, patriots began to embrace bee balm as a replacement for imported Chinese tea. Soon bee balm tea was one of the most popular drinks in colonial homes, and bee balm blooms were plentiful in their gardens.
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These bee balm plants form solid, well-branched domes with strong stems and dark green foliage accented by appealing, purple bracts. A member of the mint family, bee balm's intense aroma makes frequent garden visitors out of many beneficial pollinators but deters deer and rabbits from devouring the plants. Another great feature of these varieties is that they display above-average mildew resistance. This staple of American gardens has never looked—or smelled—better! Monarda

Includes 1 each of Cherry Pops, Pink Frosting, Blue Moon, Grape Gumball and Bubblegum Blast
Cherry Pops
Yields clusters of uniquely formed, cherry-red blooms. The flowers emit a spicy smell, as does the dark green foliage. Beneficial pollinators are attracted to the blooms, which keep coming for most of the summer. Bushy, upright, densely branched plant grows to 20". PP27618
Pink Frosting
Grows to just 14–16", making it perfect for use in containers or in the middle of borders. Pastel-pink blooms held by purple bracts open above dark green foliage. Plant features a bushy, upright habit. Flowers and leaves have a savoury fragrance that draws pollinators for weeks on end. PP29548
Blue Moon
Pretty, purple bracts support lavender-blue flowers with a spider-like appearance. Honeybees and butterflies swarm to the plentiful, fragrant blooms, which open above the spicy-smelling, dark green foliage. Upright, well-branched habit reaches 20" in height. PP29549
Grape Gumball
Produces lots of crown-shaped, vivid magenta blooms that bring butterflies, bees and hummingbirds to the garden. Deer and rabbits tend to avoid the plant, which gives off a zesty scent from its flowers and mint-like leaves. Eye-catching variety's bushy habit grows 20–24" tall. PP27498
Bubblegum Blast
Enjoy hot pink, spidery flowers held by purple bracts and growing on a well branched bush that is 24" tall. Both the flowers and the bushy, dark green foliage release a spicy scent that draws pollinators but repels deer and rabbits. Just the right size for midborder use. PP27497