The Best of the Bee Balms

Trial results identify the most disease-resistant and pollinator-friendly varieties

Every gardener has experienced dearest at first mass with at least one plant , but many of us have had more of a sexual love - hate relationship with bee balm ( Monardaspp . and cvs . , Zones 4 - 9 ) . Without fail , we are guide to itsvibrantjewel tones : a scope of reds , pinks , and purple . Its uniquely shaped flowers , evocative of royalty fag crowns and Elizabethan collars , stand out amid the daisy anatomy that are so vulgar inmidsummer . Folklore says its farewell can be used to soothe bee stings ( hence the common name ) , though today many of us grow bee balm to attract bee and otherpollinators .

‘ Raspberry Wine ’

Grand Marshall ™

‘ Dark Ponticum ’

While there are many reason to love bee balm , powdery mildewcan be a perpetual source of dashing hopes , causing leaf discolouration and even defoliation . Some gardeners also blame bee balm for its diffuse nature , though I in person love any industrial plant that take into account me to plant frugally and deal munificently .

Most selections ofbee balmare derive from scarlet bee balm ( Monarda didyma , Zones 4 - 9 ) and wild bergamot ( M. fistulosa , Zones 3 - 9 ) . Over 10 , hybridization between these two mintage has produced an overpowering identification number of cultivars for gardener to choose from . With the finish of making that choice sluttish , Mt. Cuba Centerin Hockessin , Delaware , evaluated 40 unlike selections ofMonardabased on floral video display , habit quality , and disease resistance over a three - yr point . Unfortunately , we did not find a single plant life that rated utterly in all of these family . Jump to trial outcome .

That being tell , the most well - rounded cultivar in our trial was‘Claire Grace’(M. fistulosa‘Claire Grace ’ , Zones 3 - 9 ) . This improved selection of the wild species blow a monolithic number of light purple flush atop lustrous , disease - resistant foliage . Although ‘ Claire Grace ’ is not absolutely mould - spare , the nonaged infections we discover in our otherwise mold - laden trial run were barely detectable and did not cause much defoliation . As a pick ofM. fistulosa , ‘ Claire Grace ’ is also more tolerant of normal garden soil , whereas selections and hybrids ofM. didymaprefer systematically moist soil . ‘ Claire Grace ’ also has a relatively temperate rate of spread , which may be appealing to some gardeners .

‘ Dark Ponticum’is an splendid selection for those who hope a top - notch floral display as well as attractive foliation . Its imperial flowers are borne in richness atop bluish green foliage , which is a rare leaf coloration among bee balm . ‘ Dark Ponticum ’ also remains riotous and dense throughout the entire growing season despite the fact that it can originate a fairish amount of powdery mildew . However , unlike with other susceptible cultivars , powdery mould does not actually damage its leaves . After a few expert rains , the mold dissipates , leaving beautiful blue - greenish foliage to be admired well into gloaming .

In situations where not even a speck of powdery mildew can be tolerated,‘Purple Rooster’is the perfect choice . This cultivar prove all disease - free throughout the entire three - yr trial . This is especially telling given that a trial like this is fundamentally a large monoculture that drastically exaggerates disease pressure beyond what most home gardeners will ever receive . The exceeding disease resistor of ‘ Purple Rooster ’ does come at a slight cost to the floral display , as few flowers are give rise . However , even that can be overlooked , as ‘ Purple Rooster ’ has the darkest purple flowers of any cultivar we test .

For a different eccentric of foliage color,‘Violet Queen’represents an interesting selection , thanks to the silvery haze created by the fuzzy pilus covering the surfaces of its leaves . This cultivar also display excellent resistance to powdery mildew . However , not to be outdo by the foliation , the floral display is one of the best we evaluate . C , perhaps even thousands , of purple flower covered our small bandage of ‘ Violet Queen ’ for three week in June 21 . Such an abundant video display of bloom was rivaled only by ‘ Claire Grace ’ .

For those , like myself , who are more attracted to reddish flowers,‘Judith ’s Fancy Fuchsia’captivates with a profusion of magnanimous , 3 - inch - wide efflorescence in midsummer . The larger flower size of it is a resultant role of some of itsM. didymaparentage , which of course has flush as wide as 4 inches in diam . ‘ Judith ’s Fancy Fuchsia ’ is a relatively new cultivar and may be difficult to receive . A similar selection that is more commonly available is‘Raspberry Wine ’ . The habit and floral show are most identical with these two , with the only deviation being that ‘ Judith ’s Fancy Fuchsia ’ is more resistant to powdery mildew .

Many of the new cultivar of bee balm being released today have been selected for stocky and dwarf habits . In our trial , we found that many of the compact selections perform poorly . The one exclusion wasGrand Marshall ™ (Monarda‘AChall ’ ) . This knee joint - high plant life has excellent powdery mildew resistance and bring on legion big magenta flowers . Whereas most compact varieties have excessively dense habit that often look best in a container , Grand Marshall ™ has a habit more like to marvellous bee balms , at one - third the height . This more natural appearance makes Grand Marshall ™ easier to integrate with neighboring plant in the landscape .

TRIAL outcome

Click to enlarge

SCIENCE

The best ones for pollinators

Bee balms are frequently recommended for pollinator gardens , and for just grounds , as they are buzzing with activity during the estrus of summer . So you may be surprised to learn that not all bee balms draw the same type of pollinators .

For good example , Monarda didyma , with its huge , bright red flowers , is only pollinate by hummingbirds . Bees may visit , but they efficaciously “ rob ” nectar from the flower by cut off a small hole in the base of the tube , thus avoiding the pollen - produce structures entirely . hummingbird are able-bodied to insert their tongues down the full length of the floral tubes to reach the nectar at the bottom . While doing so , they pile up pollen on their forehead , then transfer it to the next flower they visit . M. fistulosa , on the other hired hand , has efflorescence that are too small for hummingbirds to use and so is pollinate by bee , moth , and butterflies . Hybrids between these two specie are also typically insect - pollinated , as the flowers are ordinarily too small to lodge the hooter of a hummingbird .

In an effort to find if certain selection are more lie with by pollinators than others , Mt. Cuba Center enlist the assistance of consecrated volunteers ( the Pollinator Watch Team ) to monitor pollinator visits to each choice in our trial . They find that ‘ Jacob Cline ’ was favored the most by hummingbirds , much more than other cultivars with magnanimous , red flower . One possible account is that this particular ‘ Jacob Cline ’ was taller than the exchangeable cultivar that beleaguer it , create access to the blossom much gentle .

Moths and butterfly were keep impose ‘ Claire Grace ’ most often , followed closely by ‘ On Parade ’ and ‘ Violet Queen ’ . Compared to other selections , these three cultivars acquire the most prolific floral display , blooming with more blossom and over a longer period of time . It is not surprising , then , to see more pollinators visit these plant . While there is still much to be learned about the ecologic value and function of cultivar in general , it is encouraging to see how trait care peak production and duration of bloom may be advantageous to gardeners and pollinators likewise .

BASICS

What to Do About Powdery Mildew

Powdery mold is a omnipresent fungus in the environment , requiring only a susceptible boniface and proper atmospheric condition circumstance to grow . It develops as a off-white gray fuzz or haze on leaves and stems , and usually first appears when the days are tender and the night are cool . The cool nights provide the in high spirits humidity that favour spore germination ( knowledgeability of new infections ) , and tender daytime provide the down humidness that enables spore dispersal ( go around of survive infection ) .

In the Mt. Cuba Center bee balm evaluation , the first signs of infection typically appeared as the plant started to flower . blossoming requires a significant amount of energy and resourcefulness , and this stress can make industrial plant vulnerable to transmission . Limiting the amount of stress a plant experience can help forbid or dilute infections ; for bee salve , this might be accomplished by providing tolerable water during its flowering period . Dividing aged clump every few long time may also help to reinvigorate trite and tenseness - prostrate plants .

– George Coombs is the horticultural research manager at Mt. Cuba Center in Hockessin , Delaware .

Butterfly on ‘Purple Rooster’

‘Purple Rooster’

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‘Raspberry Wine’

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