If you want to attract bees to your yard with colorful flowers , you may have heard that bee balm is a groovy flora to plant . Also known as bergamot , bee balm ( Monarda spp . ) is a bee ( and hummingbird ! ) magnet , thanks to its aromatic petals and ambrosia - rich center . Not only does it benefit pollinators , but it bloom in stunning shade of pinkish , snowy , purple , and cerise . Also , gardeners in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 9 can easily farm it . All it require is full to fond Lord’s Day and nutrient - fat , damp soil to do well . Some works , like those in the mint family , should not be planted next to bee balm so that it is as healthy for pollinators as it is beautiful .
Plants may be incompatible with bee balm for a variety of reasonableness . They might spread quickly and aggressively , compete for resources , need unlike acquire conditions , or get so giving and improbable that they block the bee balm from getting enough sunshine . For your garden and any pollinator in the expanse , any of these things can hurt your bee balm plants . In order of magnitude for your bee balm to work as well as it can , you need to know which plants you should n’t implant next to it and which plants will aid the bee balm and other pollinators .
Bee balm ( Monarda spp . ) is a gorgeous repeated wildflower that attracts bee , butterfly hummingbirds and other pollinators with its colorful , nectar - rich blooms . With its minty aroma and medicative qualities , it ’s also a versatile herbaceous plant for culinary and aromatherapy uses .
While bee balm is comparatively easy to grow , providing it with full sun and moist , fertile soil , measured fellow planting is crucial for this plant to flourish The wrong neighbor plants can stunt its growth , hinder anthesis , or even choke it out completely
Through my experience gardening with bee balm , I ’ve learn what not to implant next to this adorable wildflower . Here ’s an in - depth expression at bee balm ’s incompatible garden teammate and better companion options to develop a healthy , vivacious plant that benefits your whole garden ecosystem .
Vegetables to Avoid Near Bee Balm
Many vegetable are a poor selection for institute next to bee balm . Some vegetables , including favorite like corn whisky , melons , and tomatoes , amuse nutrients away from the bee balm . Beets , Brassica oleracea italica , cabbage , and carrot , too , are heavily - feast vegetables that will dampen bee balm .
Other veggie varieties be given to harbor pest and disease that could spread to the bee balm . It ’s best not to plant eggplants peppers potatoes , or squeeze near your bee balm plants .
or else of interplanting bee balm with vegetables , devote a separate bed or border to this flowering herbaceous plant . You ’ll still glean the pollination welfare for your vegetable garden while ensuring your bee balm has the quad and nutrients it requires .
Steer Clear of Mint Family Members
Bee salve is in the mint family ( Lamiaceae ) , which think of it ’s kin to herb favorites like peppermint , Mentha spicata , oregano , basil and lavender . While aromatic and delightful , many good deal family members are aggressive spreaders with bold ascendent systems .
constitute bee balm alongside other mint family member often chair to stunted growth and lackluster flowering . The plant compete for resources , often to the hurt of your bee balm .
I learned this lesson the hard way after planting my bee balm next to spearmint one year . The Mentha spicata quickly intrude on the bee balm ’s quad , and I had to dig up and relocate my bee balm plant to restore their muscularity .
Other Herbs to Avoid as Bee Balm Companions
Beyond its minty full cousin , there are a few other herb that do n’t make full bee balm companion in the garden bed .
Lemon balm , catnip , and anise hyssop are wonderful pollinator plant . However , they lean to propagate sharply and will take over bee balm ’s distance .
Culinary herbaceous plant like thyme , sage , and tarragon are just too short to thrive next to bee balm ’s 2 - 4 understructure height at maturity date . These modest herbs will get shade out and struggle near bee balm .
Better Companion Plant Options for Bee Balm
While vegetables and many herbs do n’t blend well with bee balm , there are peck of splendid companion plants to grow beside this wild flower . pick out compatible perennial , annuals , and flowering herbs will help oneself your bee balm — and your whole garden — prosper .
Some of my favorite bee balm familiar include :
coneflower – Purple coneflower ( Echinacea purpurea ) is a prairie wildflower and medicinal herbaceous plant . Its pinkish - purple blooms complement bee balm ’s colors attractively while attracting more pollinators .
Black - eyed Susans – A classic gay wildflower , black - eyed Susan ( Rudbeckia hirta ) geminate dead with bee balm . It suck in bee and butterflies without competing for nutrient .
Lavender – Though an fast-growing broadcaster , dwarf lavender mixed bag like Munstead stay a civilised size of it . Their purple blooms and bouquet complement bee balm toppingly .
Cosmos – These pretty , ferny annuals bloom in white , pink , and magenta . Their daisy - corresponding flowers intermix beautifully with bee balm .
Zinnias – For a splash of hot color , plant life old maid next to bee balm . These heat energy - get it on yearly attract butterflies but wo n’t spread into the bee balm ’s space .
Sage – Though culinary salvia ( Salvia officinalis ) is too inadequate for bee balm , the expectant Garden Sage ( Salvia guaranitica ) work well . Its blue flowers flower alongside bee balm ’s colors .
Give Bee Balm Proper Spacing
When planting any companions next to bee balm , it ’s important to give this wildflower proper spatial arrangement . Bee balm originate 2 - 4 feet magniloquent and wide-eyed at due date , though some species may reach 5 invertebrate foot across .
ensure to space industrial plant 12 - 24 inches apart when first establish bee balm . This will prevent them from crowd each other as they age . Proper spacing also allows good strain circulation around the plants , which helps forestall disease issues like powdery mildew .
Choose companions that will reach the same sizing or larger than bee balm . annul planting forgetful companions that could get overshadow .
With smart companion planting choices and enough elbow room , your bee balm will thrive beautifully ! It will give you vivid blooms to savour indoors and sustain pollinator in your garden .
Aggressive, resource-hungry plants harm bee balm
Mint is known for well grow in just about any filth or sunshine conditions . Bee balm , which is in the mint household , can quickly take over the garden because it spreads so easy . Also , peppermint ( Mentha piperita L. ) plants will attempt to spread their roots as far as they can , since bee balm will exhaust up all the resource it can find . ) and Mentha spicata ( Mentha spicata ) will want to do the same . Too many plants that distribute out quickly may want more nutrients than one part of the garden can provide . This can cause the plants to all become stunted or die . stack are n’t the only plant that can spread aggressively . However , unlike areas have different species that are consider fast-growing or encroaching , so do some research before implant anything else near your bee balm .
You also want to be cautious about planting heavy feeder plants alongside bee balm . Heavy feeder are plants that need important amounts of fundamental filth nutrients such as nitrogen , phosphorus , and potassium . These plants will take all the nutrients from the soil to stay put salubrious , which can hurt other industrial plant like bee balm . Unfortunately , many vegetable plants are considered heavy tributary . Because of this , veggie that like it red-hot in the summertime , like tomatoes , corn , squeeze , and others , should n’t be planted next to bee balm .
Bee Balm – Monarda Didyma – Complete Grow and Care Guide
FAQ
Does bee balm choke out other plants ?
What are common problems with bee balm ?
Where does bee balm wish to be constitute ?
What animal will consume bee balm ?
Are there regretful comrade plants in a bee balm garden seam ?
Here is a quick flavour at some bad familiar plants that you should n’t admit in your bee balm garden bed . When you plant bee balm next to taller plant , these recurrent industrial plant species might not get enough sunlight . This will affect the bee balm ’s power to produce flush and can stunt its growth .
What are the best bee balm plant ?
Phlox is one of the most idealistic bee balm companion plants if you want to sum a bit of color to your vegetable or herb garden because it bring about beautiful pink , come up , cherry lavender , purple , orangish , or white flowers that will add lots of demarcation .
Which industrial plant are not good for bees ?
Since we want to keep bees in our garden but send many other dirt ball off , it ’s essential to be aware of the plants that are not good for bees . The following coinage are not bee - friendly : Bog rosemary , Amaryllis , Heliconia , Mountain Laurel , Stargazer Lily , Oleander , Yellow Jessamine , Angel ’s trumpet , Azalea , and Rhododendron .
Are grim - Eyed Susans good companion plants for bee balm ?
pitch-dark - eyed susans are cracking companion plants for bee balm because the lifelike yellow flowers will create plenty of contrast alongside the promising colors of bee balm flowers . Bee balm will also help repel louse pests that tend to round your fateful - eyed susans .
Can you grow tall plant next to bee balm ?
You should not grow marvellous plant and short full - sun plants next to bee balm because they have different growing requirements . Some varieties might also be poor companion because they increase the risk of developing powdery mold . Here is a quick look at some big familiar plant that you should n’t include in your bee balm garden bed .
Why are n’t my Bee ointment plants blossom ?
Your Bee unguent plants might not be blossom due to age . Every three years or so , they course start to bloom less because they get overcrowded . To rejuvenate the industrial plant , you could dig out it up and split it . Alternatively , you’re able to achieve rejuvenation within a single maturate season by removing all the spent blooms .
