This is a different type of beebalm than I've grown before. Its pretty, but has me a bit confused.
There's a lot of conflicting info out there about it. Most sites refer to it as a 'winter annual', but I've found accounts from gardeners that say it has perenialized in their gardens. From those sources, it is said to be hardy to zone 6.
From some sources it is said to prefer sandy soil, others that it is easily adaptable and will tolerate even clay soils. Even its water preferences are hard to know - I've found it listed as a plant suitable for xeriscaping (meaning it is very drought tolerant) but have also found sources saying it prefers to be kept evenly moist. Most agree that it can take full sun to semi-shade.
While it can be aggressive (invasive) in some areas, I can find no sources that say it grows in my area (zone 7b in North Carolina). This means I'll have to be sure to collect some seed, just in case. It is an edible plant, with leaves that add a nice lemony flavor to salads or cooked foods. Its flowers are quite different than the Monarda didyma that I also grow, with the flower petals appearing much like bracts or leaves with a different coloration than its regular leaves. This is one that I'd like to get a nice colony of going for the enjoyment of the bees we expect to start keeping in the spring. Hopefully, the spot I've chosen will be to its liking - only time will tell.
This is a different type of beebalm than I've grown before. Its pretty, but has me a bit confused.
There's a lot of conflicting info out there about it. Most sites refer to it as a 'winter annual', but I've found accounts from gardeners that say it has perenialized in their gardens. From those sources, it is said to be hardy to zone 6.
From some sources it is said to prefer sandy soil, others that it is easily adaptable and will tolerate even clay soils. Even its water preferences are hard to know - I've found it listed as a plant suitable for xeriscaping (meaning it is very drought tolerant) but have also found sources saying it prefers to be kept evenly moist. Most agree that it can take full sun to semi-shade.
While it can be aggressive (invasive) in some areas, I can find no sources that say it grows in my area (zone 7b in North Carolina). This means I'll have to be sure to collect some seed, just in case. It is an edible plant, with leaves that add a nice lemony flavor to salads or cooked foods. Its flowers are quite different than the Monarda didyma that I also grow, with the flower petals appearing much like bracts or leaves with a different coloration than its regular leaves. This is one that I'd like to get a nice colony of going for the enjoyment of the bees we expect to start keeping in the spring. Hopefully, the spot I've chosen will be to its liking - only time will tell.
