Monarda bradburyana (Bradbury’s Bee Balm)

Monarda bradburyana (Bradbury’s Bee Balm)

A compact, easy-care native perennial, Bradbury’s Bee Balm is a smaller, more refined version of the classic prairie favorite. Perfect for home gardens, it thrives in a range of conditions—from full sun to partial shade—and adapts well to average garden soils.

This fragrant plant features soft pink to white blooms with purple accents, adding a delicate pop of color to your summer garden. Like all Bee Balms, it releases a pleasant minty-oregano scent and is naturally deer resistant. It’s also a pollinator magnet, attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Why you’ll love it:
Compact, garden-friendly size
Fragrant foliage with a minty aroma
Attracts beneficial pollinators
Deer resistant
Native to the southern and central United States

Growing details:
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Water: Drought tolerant once established
Height: 1–2 feet
Bloom Time: Summer (deadhead to extend flowering)
Zones: 5–8

For best performance, provide good air circulation and deadhead spent blooms to encourage a longer flowering period. This variety may self-seed.