Image of Monarda didyma
image of Flowering plant
Monarda didyma
Scarlet beebalm
Monarde écarlate

Obsolete Names

  • beebalm
  • bergamot
  • fragrant balm
  • mountain mint
  • Oswego tea
  • monarde pourpre
No seeds available for this plant.

We are not accepting seeds for this plant at the moment.

Bloom colour: Red Bloom period: July - August
Max Height: 3.0 feet
Max Width: 2.0 feet (spreads by rhizome)
Light condition:
Full sun More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Part shade More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Soil conditions:
Moisture medium Tolerates medium soil condition
Lifespan : Perennial
Gardener Experience:
beginner friendly Suitable for beginner gardeners
plant germinate easy Easy to germinate
Landscape uses:
wetland garden Suitable for wetland garden
shoreline_rehab Suitable for shoreline rehabilitation
container suitable Suitable for container garden
school garden Suitable for school gardens
Ecological Benefits:
Hummingbird friendly Supports hummingbirds
Bird friendly Supports birds
Pollinator garden Supports pollinators
butterfly host Butterfly host
bee host Bee host
Tolerates:
Deer Resistant Deer resistant
rabbit resistant Rabbit resistant
limestone Tolerant Tolerates limestone conditions
boulevard garden tolerant Tolerates boulevard garden conditions
juglone Tolerant Tolerates juglone conditions
transplantation Tolerant Tolerates transplantation

Plant Distribution

Native to Ottawa region: No

Distribution according to VASCAN

Distribution: Monarda didyma
Ephemeral Native Introduced Excluded Extirpated Doubtful Absent
View taxonomy on Canadensys

View on iNaturalist

Thrives in Ecozones

  • Ecozone-Mixed Wood Plain
  • Ecozone-Boreal Shield
  • Ecozone-Boreal_Plains

Butterflies Supported by Monarda didyma

  • Pyrausta signatalis (Raspberry Pyrausta)

Bees Supported by Monarda didyma

  • Dufourea monardae

Complementary Plants Plants that grow in similar conditions, that bloom at the same time.

  • No complementary plants found.

Sowing Information

  • Sowing depth: Surface sow
  • Sow anytime
  • Stratification duration: 0 days
  • Self-seeding

Harvesting Information

  • Harvesting indicator: Pods are brown, seeds are dark, and crisp, and little stem connecting the pod to the main stem is brown (not green)
  • Harvesting mean: Put pods in blender and blend seeds
  • Seed Viability Test: No test needed before donating
  • Packaging Measure: Half of one, 1/32 teaspoon
  • Seed Storage: Air Dry in paper bag or open container, for a few days until crisp, shaking seeds to move them once in a while to prevent molding
  • On Cultivar: Yes, do not donate unless you know source, and there are no known cultivars in your garden or at proximity