Return to Fruits, Herbs, Spices, Vegetable Index

Contact Us

Hewitt, Ben. 2001July/August. Tea for Two. Organic Gardening 48(5):32.

(Monarda didyma) A perennial that grows to 3 to 4 feet and bears flowers in shades of pink, scarlet, purple, and white from July through August. Harvest the citrus-flavored leaves prior to and following flowering but not during. Bee balm prefers moist, rich soil and full sun to shade in Zoes 4 to 9. Traditional Native American uses include treatment for weak bowels, stomachaches, and flatulence, and promotion of menstruation. It is not recommended for use during pregnancy.

Updated: Wednesday, December 5, 2007.