If you want to attract bees to your yard with colorful flowers, you may have heard that bee balm is a great plant to plant. Also known as bergamot, bee balm (Monarda spp. ) is a bee (and hummingbird!) magnet, thanks to its aromatic petals and nectar-rich center. Not only does it benefit pollinators, but it blooms in stunning shades of pink, white, purple, and red. Also, gardeners in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 9 can easily grow it. All it needs is full to partial sun and nutrient-rich, moist soil to do well. Some plants, like those in the mint family, should not be planted next to bee balm so that it is as healthy for pollinators as it is beautiful.
Plants may be incompatible with bee balm for a variety of reasons. They might spread quickly and aggressively, compete for resources, need different growing conditions, or get so big and tall that they block the bee balm from getting enough sunlight. For your garden and any pollinators in the area, any of these things can hurt your bee balm plants. In order for your bee balm to work as well as it can, you need to know which plants you shouldn’t plant next to it and which plants will help the bee balm and other pollinators.
Bee balm (Monarda spp.) is a gorgeous perennial wildflower that attracts bees, butterflies hummingbirds and other pollinators with its colorful, nectar-rich blooms. With its minty aroma and medicinal qualities, it’s also a versatile herb for culinary and aromatherapy uses.
While bee balm is relatively easy to grow, providing it with full sun and moist, fertile soil, careful companion planting is crucial for this plant to thrive The wrong neighbor plants can stunt its growth, hinder flowering, or even choke it out completely
Through my experience gardening with bee balm, I’ve learned what not to plant next to this lovely wildflower. Here’s an in-depth look at bee balm’s incompatible garden mates and better companion options to grow a healthy, vibrant plant that benefits your whole garden ecosystem.
Vegetables to Avoid Near Bee Balm
Many vegetables are a poor choice for planting next to bee balm. Some vegetables, including favorites like corn, melons, and tomatoes, divert nutrients away from the bee balm. Beets, broccoli, cabbage, and carrots, too, are heavy-feeding vegetables that will weaken bee balm.
Other veggie varieties tend to harbor pests and diseases that could spread to the bee balm. It’s best not to plant eggplants peppers potatoes, or squash near your bee balm plants.
Instead of interplanting bee balm with vegetables, devote a separate bed or border to this flowering herb. You’ll still reap the pollination benefits for your vegetable garden while ensuring your bee balm has the space and nutrients it requires.
Steer Clear of Mint Family Members
Bee balm is in the mint family (Lamiaceae), which means it’s kin to herb favorites like peppermint, spearmint, oregano, basil and lavender. While aromatic and delicious, many mint family members are aggressive spreaders with bold root systems.
Planting bee balm alongside other mint family members often leads to stunted growth and lackluster flowering. The plants compete for resources, often to the detriment of your bee balm.
I learned this lesson the hard way after planting my bee balm next to spearmint one year. The spearmint quickly invaded the bee balm’s space, and I had to dig up and relocate my bee balm plants to restore their vigor.
Other Herbs to Avoid as Bee Balm Companions
Beyond its minty cousins, there are a few other herbs that don’t make good bee balm companions in the garden bed.
Lemon balm, catnip, and anise hyssop are wonderful pollinator plants. However, they tend to spread aggressively and will take over bee balm’s space.
Culinary herbs like thyme, sage, and tarragon are just too short to thrive next to bee balm’s 2-4 foot height at maturity. These small herbs will get shaded out and struggle near bee balm.
Better Companion Plant Options for Bee Balm
While vegetables and many herbs don’t blend well with bee balm, there are plenty of excellent companion plants to grow beside this wildflower. Choosing compatible perennials, annuals, and flowering herbs will help your bee balm—and your whole garden—prosper.
Some of my favorite bee balm companions include:
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Coneflowers – Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is a prairie wildflower and medicinal herb. Its pink-purple blooms complement bee balm’s colors beautifully while attracting more pollinators.
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Black-eyed Susans – A classic sunny wildflower, black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) pairs perfectly with bee balm. It draws in bees and butterflies without competing for nutrients.
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Lavender – Though an aggressive spreader, dwarf lavender varieties like Munstead stay a polite size. Their purple blooms and fragrance complement bee balm wonderfully.
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Cosmos – These pretty, ferny annuals bloom in white, pink, and magenta. Their daisy-like flowers intermingle beautifully with bee balm.
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Zinnias – For a splash of hot color, plant zinnias next to bee balm. These heat-loving annuals attract butterflies but won’t spread into the bee balm’s space.
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Sage – Though culinary sage (Salvia officinalis) is too short for bee balm, the larger Garden Sage (Salvia guaranitica) works well. Its blue flowers bloom alongside bee balm’s colors.
Give Bee Balm Proper Spacing
When planting any companions next to bee balm, it’s important to give this wildflower proper spacing. Bee balm grows 2-4 feet tall and wide at maturity, though some species may reach 5 feet across.
Make sure to space plants 12-24 inches apart when first planting bee balm. This will prevent them from crowding each other as they mature. Proper spacing also allows good air circulation around the plants, which helps prevent disease issues like powdery mildew.
Choose companions that will reach the same size or larger than bee balm. Avoid planting short companions that could get overshadowed.
With smart companion planting choices and enough elbow room, your bee balm will thrive beautifully! It will give you vivid blooms to enjoy indoors and nourish pollinators in your garden.
Aggressive, resource-hungry plants harm bee balm
Mint is known for easily growing in just about any soil or sun conditions. Bee balm, which is in the mint family, can quickly take over the garden because it spreads so easily. Also, peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) plants will try to spread their roots as far as they can, since bee balm will eat up all the resources it can find. ) and spearmint (Mentha spicata) will want to do the same. Too many plants that spread out quickly may need more nutrients than one part of the garden can provide. This can cause the plants to all become stunted or die. Mints aren’t the only plants that can spread aggressively. However, different areas have different species that are considered aggressive or invasive, so do some research before planting anything else near your bee balm.
You also want to be cautious about planting heavy feeder plants alongside bee balm. Heavy feeders are plants that require significant amounts of key soil nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. These plants will take all the nutrients from the soil to stay healthy, which can hurt other plants like bee balm. Unfortunately, many vegetable plants are considered heavy feeders. Because of this, vegetables that like it hot in the summer, like tomatoes, corn, squash, and others, shouldn’t be planted next to bee balm.
Bee Balm – Monarda Didyma – Complete Grow and Care Guide
FAQ
Does bee balm choke out other plants?
What are common problems with bee balm?
Where does bee balm like to be planted?
What animal will eat bee balm?
Are there bad companion plants in a bee balm garden bed?
Here is a quick look at some bad companion plants that you shouldn’t include in your bee balm garden bed. When you plant bee balm next to taller plants, these perennial plant species might not get enough sunlight. This will affect the bee balm’s ability to produce flowers and can stunt its growth.
What are the best bee balm plants?
Phlox is one of the most ideal bee balm companion plants if you want to add a bit of color to your vegetable or herb garden because it produces beautiful pink, rose, red lavender, purple, orange, or white flowers that will add lots of contrast.
Which plants are not good for bees?
Since we want to keep bees in our gardens but send many other insects away, it’s essential to be aware of the plants that are not good for bees. The following species are not bee-friendly: Bog rosemary, Amaryllis, Heliconia, Mountain Laurel, Stargazer Lily, Oleander, Yellow Jessamine, Angel’s trumpet, Azalea, and Rhododendron.
Are Black-Eyed Susans good companion plants for bee balm?
Black-eyed susans are great companion plants for bee balm because the vivid yellow flowers will create plenty of contrast alongside the bright colors of bee balm flowers. Bee balm will also help repel insect pests that tend to attack your black-eyed susans.
Can you grow tall plants next to bee balm?
You should not grow tall plants and short full-sun plants next to bee balm because they have different growing requirements. Some varieties might also be poor companions because they increase the risk of developing powdery mildew. Here is a quick look at some bad companion plants that you shouldn’t include in your bee balm garden bed.
Why aren’t my Bee balm plants blooming?
Your Bee balm plants might not be blooming due to age. Every three years or so, they naturally start to bloom less because they get overcrowded. To rejuvenate the plant, you can dig it up and divide it. Alternatively, you can achieve rejuvenation within a single growing season by removing all the spent blooms.