Spielarten Mix Bee Balm is a pollinator-loving perennial with a kaleidoscope of blooms in mauve, lavender, purple, and pink that will draw butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds to your garden. Hardy from zones 4 to 9, this heirloom cultivar of Monarda didyma reaches maturity in 115 days and thrives in full sun with modest spacing requirements of just 12 inches between plants. Beyond its ornamental appeal, the leaves and flowers are edible and medicinal, lending themselves to steeping into teas, syrups, jellies, and more.
Full Sun
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4-9
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Moderate
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The real draw of Spielarten Mix is its stunning color range and triple life as ornamental, culinary, and medicinal plant all in one. Grow it for the sheer spectacle of blooms that magnetize pollinators, or harvest the leaves and flowers year after year to steep into remedial teas and syrups. It thrives in full sun across most of North America and returns reliably each season once established.
The leaves and flowers are steeped into teas for their medicinal properties, or combined into homemade cough syrups and jellies. The blooms also function as an ornamental focal point in perennial beds and pollinator gardens, where they attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds throughout the growing season.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost. Sprinkle seeds directly onto moist seed-starting mix without covering, as they need light to germinate. Keep soil at 60 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit; expect sprouting in 14 to 21 days. Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost when they have developed true leaves.
Harden off seedlings gradually over 7 to 10 days before planting outdoors. Transplant after the last spring frost when soil has warmed. Space plants 12 inches apart in full sun locations. Water gently after transplanting and keep soil consistently moist for the first few weeks.
Direct sow seeds on the soil surface in spring after the last frost date has passed. Gently press seeds into contact with soil but do not cover them. Keep the area consistently moist until seedlings establish, which typically takes 14 to 21 days. Thin seedlings to 12 inches apart once they develop true leaves.
Harvest leaves and flowers once the plant is established and blooming. Pinch or cut flowers just as they open for peak freshness and flavor; they can be used fresh or dried for later use in teas and syrups. Continue harvesting throughout the blooming season to encourage more flower production. For medicinal use, gather leaves anytime during the growing season, ideally in the morning after dew has dried.
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