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Scarlet Beebalm

Monarda didyma

Summary 5

Monarda didyma, the crimson beebalm, scarlet beebalm, scarlet monarda, Oswego tea, or bergamot, is an aromatic herb in the family Lamiaceae, native to eastern North America from Maine west to Ontario and Minnesota, and south to northern Georgia. Its odor is considered similar to that of the bergamot orange (used to flavor Earl Grey tea). The genus name comes from Nicolas Monardes, who described the first American flora in 1569.

Description 5

This hardy perennial plant grows to 0.7-1.5 m in height, with the stems square in cross-section. The leaves are opposite on the square stems, 6–15 cm long and 3–8 cm broad, and dark green with reddish leaf veins and a coarsely toothed margin; they are glabrous or sparsely pubescent above, with spreading hairs below. It has ragged, bright red tubular flowers 3–4 cm long, borne on showy heads of about 30 together, with reddish bracts.

Distribution and Habitat 6

It grows in dense clusters along stream banks, thickets, and ditches, flowering from mid- to late summer.

Ecology 5

This plants attracts hummingbirds and is a larval host to the hermit sphinx, orange mint moth, and the raspberry pyrausta.

Cultivation and uses 5

Crimson beebalm is extensively grown as an ornamental plant, both within and outside its native range; it is naturalized further west in the United States and also in parts of Europe and Asia. It grows best in full sun, but tolerates light shade and thrives in any moist, but well-drained soil. Several cultivars have been selected for different flower color, ranging from white through pink to dark red and purple.

Beebalm has a long history of use as a medicinal plant by many Native Americans, including the Blackfoot. The Blackfoot people recognized this plant's strong antiseptic action, and used poultices of the plant for skin infections and minor wounds. An herbal tea made from the plant was also used to treat mouth and throat infections caused by dental caries and gingivitis.[citation needed] Beebalm is a natural source of the antiseptic thymol, the primary active ingredient in modern commercial mouthwash formulas. The Winnebago used an herbal tea made from beebalm as a general stimulant.[citation needed] It was also used as a carminative herb by Native Americans to treat excessive flatulence. The Native Americans of Oswego, New York, made the leaves into a tea, giving the plant one of its common names.

Read More 7

Sources and Credits

  1. (c) Fluff Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Fluff Berger
  2. (c) James Shelton, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), uploaded by James Shelton
  3. (c) Nicholas Cowey, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Nicholas Cowey
  4. (c) Dan Nydick, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Dan Nydick
  5. (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarda_didyma
  6. Adapted by Murfreesboro,TN, Natural Resource Division from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarda_didyma
  7. (c) Murfreesboro,TN, Natural Resource Division, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

iNat Map

Form Forb/herb
Light Full sun, Part sun
Soil moisture Medium, Wet
Site Meadow, Wetland, Woodland
Bloom period June, July, August
Bloom color Red
Fruit/seeds/etc. Seedheads
Wildlife supported Birds - hummingbirds, Insects - pollinators
Family Mint family
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