How to Grow Bee Balm
Bee Balm At a Glance
Difficulty
Easy
Category
Herb
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Frost Tolerance
Frost Hardy
Cold Hardiness
Survives to -34°C
Plant Family
Lamiaceae
Growing Season
Warm Season
Plant Lifecycle
Perennial
How to Start It
★ Recommended for beginners
Bee balm is hardy, so sow it outdoors in early spring, about 2 weeks before your last frost. The seed is tiny and needs light, so press it into the soil and barely cover it, about 0.3 cm, then keep it damp. It sprouts in 10 to 21 days: thin the seedlings to about 45 cm apart, and expect flowers from the second summer.
Bee balm is a hardy flower that comes back every year and spreads by creeping roots, so give it room or grow it in a large pot. Bees and hummingbirds love it. Plants grown from seed can vary a little in colour from the parent.
When To Start
Bee Balm needs warmth. Wait until your last frost has passed and the soil has warmed before sowing.
We do not have exact sowing dates for this one yet.
When should you plant Bee Balm?
Your planting dates depend on your local climate. Sign up and add your location to unlock personalized dates.
Your Bee Balm Planting Window
Start planting
May 15, 2026
Last chance
Sep 10, 2026
Your Bee Balm Calendar
Set your location to turn these into exact dates and reminders.
Sow bee balm seed outdoors, pressed onto the soil
2 weeks before your last frost
Plant bee balm out in a sunny spot with room to spread
Around your last frost· optional
Pick bee balm leaves for tea, best before it flowers
75 days after your last frost· every year
Divide bee balm every 2 to 3 years in early spring
1 week before your last frost· every year· optional
Did you water your bee balm seedlings today? Keep the top of the soil damp until they are up and growing.
About 1 days after you plant it
Checking in on your bee balm! Keep the soil lightly moist while the young plants settle in.
About 30 days after you plant it
Your bee balm is growing its roots. Space plants for good airflow so the leaves stay healthy.
About 90 days after you plant it
The Journey Ahead
Bee Balm's Lifecycle
Seedling
Mature Plant
Seed Production
Step 2
Planting & Sprouting
Expect sprouts in 10–21 days
Growing Tips
- 1Grow bee balm in full sun for the most flowers, though it takes a little afternoon shade.
- 2Mix compost into the soil at planting so it holds moisture.
- 3Water deeply in dry spells, because thirsty plants get a white powder on the leaves (powdery mildew).
- 4A layer of compost each spring is all the feeding it needs.
- 5Thin out a few stems each spring and keep plants 45 cm apart so air moves through them, which also keeps mildew away.
- 6Cut the stems back after flowering, and divide clumps every 2 to 3 years to keep them strong.
Seedling Phase
Step 3
Growth & Maturity
90 cm
Mature Height
60 cm
Mature Width
Pests to Watch For
Diseases to Watch For
Mature Plant
Step 4
Harvesting
When to Pick
Pick leaves before flowering for tea; flowers are edible too
How to Harvest
- 1Pick leaves any time for tea, but they taste best just before the plant flowers.
- 2Cut stems in the morning once the dew dries, leaving at least half the plant.
- 3Pick the flowers when they are fully open, since the petals are edible and look pretty on salads.
- 4Hang small bunches upside down in a dark, airy place to dry, then store the leaves in a sealed jar.
- 5Snip off faded flowers to get a second, smaller round of blooms.
Step 5
Saving Seeds
How to Save Seeds
Bee balm is pollinated by insects and crosses with other bee balm nearby, so seeds from named varieties often grow into plants of a different colour, and hybrid F1 seeds will not grow true. Let the flower heads dry and turn brown on the plant in late summer or fall. Cut them into a paper bag and shake or crumble them to free the tiny dark seeds. Store them labelled in a cool, dark, dry place, where they keep 2 to 3 years.
Seed Production
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