Monarda Red Velvet

Proven Winners UPSCALE ® Red Velvet is a strong, tall, cherry red bee balm with consistent height. It is perfect for creating blankets of flowers in the mid-section of a border garden and can serve as a clumping perennial in a more naturalistic landscape setting. We like this nativar because it has strong stems that won't fall and a good resistance to powdery mildew. Glossy foliage is attractive and the depth of color provides an excellent backdrop for the loads of attractive bee balm flowers.

Monarda is native to eastern North America, so it is a hardy plant that grows quickly, does well in a variety of soils and is easy to care for. The nectar in the flowers is a favorite of native pollinators. The foliage is aromatic, smells of crushed mint and can be used to flavor team or sparkling water. With their summer blooms come a menagerie of pollinators including bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and even the oft forgotten but very important flying beetles.

Photo Credit: Walters Gardens

General care for any tree or shrub is easy, but like any living thing will require your attention. Please educate yourself and follow these simple rules.

Monarda Red Velvet

In the wild Monarda can be found along riverbanks and as a result prefers rich soil, but it will grow in average soil as well. Full sun is best, but it will tolerate light shade, where it will spread more quickly, but be less dense and have fewer blooms. Monarda reproduce rapidly through underground rhizomes. They will also respond well to deadheading. Powdery mildew is a common fungal problem as it is best to purchase a cultivar that has resistance, at New Blooms we only carry resistant cultivars because powder mildew is common. As an additional preventative measure plants should be thinned out when they become overly thick - increasing airflow and soil should be kept moist with supplemental watering and a yearly application of mulch.