![]() It was a popular replacement for black tea after the Boston Tea Party happened. Native Americans who lived in upstate New York showed settlers how to use it to make herbal tea, and this is how Oswego tea came about. In the eastern portion of the United States, Native American tribes used it to remove the pain associated with bee stings by crushing the leaves before rubbing it into the skin. However, prior to this, Native American Tribes in Canada and Eastern North America used bee balm medicinally for a variety of illnesses and ailments for centuries.īee Balm is Monarda didyma common, and it got this name because it was popular to use to soothe bee stings. He published some of the first books specifically for Native American plants during the late 1500s. The Monarda genus got its name after the Spanish botanist and physician Nocholas Monardes. Monarda is really an all-around plant, suitable for an ornamental landscape, herb and vegetable gardens, and pollinator gardens. You’re likely to see hummingbirds and butterflies drawn to it during the summer and birds coming for the seeds in fall and winter. True to its name, bee balm also attracts many pollinators, including bees. The blooms make an eye-catching garnish in salads, and the leaves can be used to make a very aromatic herbal tea. ![]() Bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies are all drawn to its blooms.īesides providing joyful color in your garden, both the leaves and flowers of bee balm are edible. Monarda belongs to the mint family, explaining its scented leaves and easy-to-grow habit.īee balm is a lovely plant that’s attractive to both humans and pollinators. The leaves of bee balm are very fragrant and will give off an aromatic scent when brushed or warmed by the sun. ![]() Many types of Monarda also make a great addition to an herb or vegetable garden. You can grow it with other sun-loving perennials like phlox or plant it in front of daylilies or echinacea. It gives a splash of warm color to your garden and works especially well as a mid-border plant. Monarda will bloom throughout summer and into fall. For one, it’s an easy to grow plant and a perennial in USDA hardiness zones 3-9. ![]()
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