Has any one had success growing Bee Balm (Monarda) in Florida? Particularly in the Orlando zone area (9b)? If so, any cultural suggestions? Dan

Hi Dan, I posted about your question in the Florida gardening forum & gave a link back here to your original query. I'm rather curious as to the question myself. Here's what I posted:
The thread "Growing Monarda (Bee Balm) in Florida" in Florida Gardening forum

I did find this info. on it:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fp413

http://www.floridawildflowers....

http://fnpsblog.blogspot.com/2...

http://jacksonville.com/commun...

I got a start of Monarda 'Raspberry Wine' from a friend in DeLand a couple of years ago. It is still alive, and spreads itself around by underground stolons, but it has never bloomed for me. It makes little wimpy short shoots that smell nice when I mistakenly try to weed them out of the bed.

I think possibly it needs more winter chill than I'm able to supply for it. I knew it needed some chill, so I planted it on the north side of the house, where it's in the shade most of the winter. Still not enough chillin, these last couple of winters have just been too warm.

That being said, there was a nice big clump of Monarda punctata at a demonstration garden I used to volunteer for. So possibly the named varieties are more fussy than the wild one.

dyzzypyxxy said:
That being said, there was a nice big clump of Monarda punctata at a demonstration garden I used to volunteer for. So possibly the named varieties are more fussy than the wild one.

Monarda punctata... is a different animal from those water-luvin invasive stoloniferous monardas (‎Monarda didyma)

Monarda punctata is a dryland plant that increases through seeds.


Those stoloniferous types grow in the dry sand for me (in middle GA), but don't bloom much... they do much better in a nice clay bottom ditch...

I don't grow it but Spotted Beebalm (Monarda punctata) is a Florida native.

I love Spotted Horsemint (Monarda Punctata). I use it in teas and pasta sauces too. Native and incredibly drought hardy and thrives on heat.

Ah ha!! I'm rousting those other Monardas out of where they're at, and throwing them in the ditch!! Thanks, Stone.

dyzzypyxxy said: Ah ha!! I'm rousting those other Monardas out of where they're at, and throwing them in the ditch!! Thanks, Stone.

dyzzypyxxy said: Ah ha!! I'm rousting those other Monardas out of where they're at, and throwing them in the ditch!! Thanks, Stone.

From Dan: That doesn't seem to be a big help. Did you have a suggestion for me? Dan