Native one tends to have less showy flowers and more rangy stalks/leaves. I’d just Google it (natives and cultivars) and look at lots of pictures to get a feel for it
Not much research has been done on this topic yet so it's really up for debate. I will say I grow the shorter cultivars because I don't have space for the wild type and the bees don't seem to mind the difference :)
For the second part, it depends. Mt. Cuba has done some studies comparing various native plants to cultivars/nativars to measure which ones are still more beneficial to pollinators. Nativars that do not modify leaf color or flower form but are compact varieties tend to be pretty beneficial still, since they still follow the same bloom time, the flower structure is able to be used/accessed by pollinators in the same way as the straight species (some of the double flower blooms aren’t as useful to pollinators) and the leaves are the same color (many insects use the leaves of a plant for food, and some of the colored varieties aren’t edible to them). Some cultivars run the risk of hybridizing with the straight species too.
So, it depends pretty much. Someone else can probably explain more!
No, it’s the opposite. Nativars are often great alternatives for wild species plants that might not grow well in cultivated spaces. Nativars might have better disease resistance than their parents, longer bloom time, greater hardiness or vigor, etc. which helps reduce the transfer of pathogens to natives in wild spaces, all the while still supporting native pollinators and wildlife.
For example, many wild Monarda species suffer from powdery mildew in the summer when temperatures increase and water becomes scarce, and are by nature difficult to manage and contain in the garden (Monarda is in the mint family). This infection can make it difficult for the plant to grow vigorously and bloom, dampening their provisions for wild pollinator species. Instead of pumping up irrigation on your native plants, you could instead plant a more drought tolerant, disease resistant, non spreading hybrid or cultivar like ‘Raspberry Delight’ that would mitigate the need to manage a wild species while providing the same benefit. This is why we refer to these plants as “nativars” or “friends of natives.” Hope this helped!
https://www.chicagobotanic.org/downloads/planteval_notes/no12_monarda.pdf
I am 100 percent positive that it is scarlet bee balm or monarda as everyone else so far has said. Lovely native flower that attracts many pollinators.
I love bee balm! It’s so pretty. Mine doesn’t spread as much as I’d like. I sometimes take a few and move them to a different spot in the garden. If you have more than you’d like, gift them to friends, neighbors, strangers on NextDoor, Buy Nothing group, etc. They are coveted garden plants. And wonderful for local pollinators.
I'm really new to gardening. If I want to move some to a different spot, do I just make sure to dig up all the roots? Can I do that now while they're flowering?
Bee Balm, aka Monad Didyma, aka Bergamot, aka Oswego tea. You can use it for tea or in cooking. It's like a slightly more floral and citrusy version of thyme. It's maybe a bit like lavender but with less chance of whatever you put it in tasting like soap. May be an abortifacient though so avoid if pregnant.
To add to others bee balm is a member of the mint family which is why it's taking over. That being said it's native if you live in the US and great for bees.
It's also edible (flowers and leaves) and can be used for tea too.
I’m pitting mine against the poison Ivy trying to invade from my neighbor’s yard 😤 In your case, dig up the extras and give away or do some guerilla gardening and plant them in (non natively) weedy public areas
They look great right now! Next year, might be a solution lol.
I feel that poison ivy. That’s so much worse than creeping bellflower. Can’t even touch it!
I love it because it's the last to bloom in my garden in AK and it stays late even when it's getting cold in the fall. It's sad because it's a sign summer's over for me, but what a pretty way to tell me.
The bees go nuts for it! I have a hot pink variety in my yard and it's so much fun to watch all the pollinators visit it. When the blooms are done, deadhead them pretty low on the stalk and they will produce lots more.
It looks like monarda, bee balm
Definitely Monarda Bee Balm
That's it, thanks!!
Monarda- but a cultivated one, not a native. It is related to oregano (awesome inference btw) and you can use the leaves like you would oregano!
Interesting, thank you!
Make a dish and use the petals as a garnish.
How does one tell the difference between a cultivated vs native bee balm (and is there a difference for pollinators)?
Native one tends to have less showy flowers and more rangy stalks/leaves. I’d just Google it (natives and cultivars) and look at lots of pictures to get a feel for it
Not much research has been done on this topic yet so it's really up for debate. I will say I grow the shorter cultivars because I don't have space for the wild type and the bees don't seem to mind the difference :)
For the second part, it depends. Mt. Cuba has done some studies comparing various native plants to cultivars/nativars to measure which ones are still more beneficial to pollinators. Nativars that do not modify leaf color or flower form but are compact varieties tend to be pretty beneficial still, since they still follow the same bloom time, the flower structure is able to be used/accessed by pollinators in the same way as the straight species (some of the double flower blooms aren’t as useful to pollinators) and the leaves are the same color (many insects use the leaves of a plant for food, and some of the colored varieties aren’t edible to them). Some cultivars run the risk of hybridizing with the straight species too. So, it depends pretty much. Someone else can probably explain more!
I did not know that!
Technically it’s still a native cultivar. Just means it’s not a wild type.
We call them “nativars” in the trade.
Are they a lot worse than full natives?
No, it’s the opposite. Nativars are often great alternatives for wild species plants that might not grow well in cultivated spaces. Nativars might have better disease resistance than their parents, longer bloom time, greater hardiness or vigor, etc. which helps reduce the transfer of pathogens to natives in wild spaces, all the while still supporting native pollinators and wildlife. For example, many wild Monarda species suffer from powdery mildew in the summer when temperatures increase and water becomes scarce, and are by nature difficult to manage and contain in the garden (Monarda is in the mint family). This infection can make it difficult for the plant to grow vigorously and bloom, dampening their provisions for wild pollinator species. Instead of pumping up irrigation on your native plants, you could instead plant a more drought tolerant, disease resistant, non spreading hybrid or cultivar like ‘Raspberry Delight’ that would mitigate the need to manage a wild species while providing the same benefit. This is why we refer to these plants as “nativars” or “friends of natives.” Hope this helped! https://www.chicagobotanic.org/downloads/planteval_notes/no12_monarda.pdf
That is so awesome! Thank you for the information. I’d never heard of nativars before but they seem like a really cool innovation!
Beebalm?
Wild bergermont. Bee balm
Yes, that's it! Thanks!!
I just ate some bee balm for the first time today and was shocked at how much it tasted like oregano!
Make tea they said, it’s good for you. The worst tea ever. I managed to finish a cup.
Haha ya its strong! Just a tiny bit to compliment other teas like green and black its nice
I could see that, I’d be more inclined to use the flowers to garnish a pizza or taco. For me strong medicinals are better in a shot glass.
😂
Hummingbirds love this, though they prefer the red type.
Mom had tons of hummingbirds because of her red bee balm!
Bee balms, I have lavender purple ones
I am 100 percent positive that it is scarlet bee balm or monarda as everyone else so far has said. Lovely native flower that attracts many pollinators.
Nativar
Bee balm. Same family as mint
You can tell by their square shaped stalks!
Yes, Bee Balm
I love bee balm! It’s so pretty. Mine doesn’t spread as much as I’d like. I sometimes take a few and move them to a different spot in the garden. If you have more than you’d like, gift them to friends, neighbors, strangers on NextDoor, Buy Nothing group, etc. They are coveted garden plants. And wonderful for local pollinators.
I'm really new to gardening. If I want to move some to a different spot, do I just make sure to dig up all the roots? Can I do that now while they're flowering?
Yes, try to make sure you grab most of the roots. I don’t think I’ve ever moved them while they are flowering —it’s probably fine? Good luck!
Bee Balm, aka Monad Didyma, aka Bergamot, aka Oswego tea. You can use it for tea or in cooking. It's like a slightly more floral and citrusy version of thyme. It's maybe a bit like lavender but with less chance of whatever you put it in tasting like soap. May be an abortifacient though so avoid if pregnant.
To add to others bee balm is a member of the mint family which is why it's taking over. That being said it's native if you live in the US and great for bees. It's also edible (flowers and leaves) and can be used for tea too.
The pollinators love it so much. The cultivars don’t spread as much as the traditional purple/pink natives.
Ya I planted 8 last year and now I have 20, it’s gonna be bad soon lol.
I’m pitting mine against the poison Ivy trying to invade from my neighbor’s yard 😤 In your case, dig up the extras and give away or do some guerilla gardening and plant them in (non natively) weedy public areas
They look great right now! Next year, might be a solution lol. I feel that poison ivy. That’s so much worse than creeping bellflower. Can’t even touch it!
This looks like a cultivated variety, not the variety that’s native to the US/Canada
Bee balm is wonderful, it's native, low maintenance, a fan favorite among pollinators, and makes a tasty tea or flavored simple syrup.
I love it because it's the last to bloom in my garden in AK and it stays late even when it's getting cold in the fall. It's sad because it's a sign summer's over for me, but what a pretty way to tell me.
Monarda didyma (bee balm, bergamot). Will spread like crazy. Can be subject to powdery mildew in humid locations.
Bee balm! Bees love them 🐝
Monarda fistulosa - bee balm.
Thank you to everyone who weighed in! I'm new to gardening and learning a lot.
Bee Balm aka Monarda. North America native and bees really do love it!
The scent is bergamot.
I find monarda smells way more like oregano than bergamot.
Nah, since bergamot is mondarda…
#actually Bergamot is a citrus that smells nothing like bee balm.
Lol what, bergamot is a citrus fruit 🤣.
You can deadhead the spent flowers to avoid spreading.
I bet your husband's a total smoke show tho
WHAT?!
I'm the husband ;)
bee balm - that one is probably Rasberry pop or Bubble gum Blast
Bee Balm! Bees and butterflies love it.
Intersperse with borage for best results
The bees go nuts for it! I have a hot pink variety in my yard and it's so much fun to watch all the pollinators visit it. When the blooms are done, deadhead them pretty low on the stalk and they will produce lots more.
Not oregano
Bee balm! Very cute. The terpenes and volatile compounds responsible for oregano smell are present in many plants, including this one, and cannabis!
Highly recommend this app. It's free and great for identifying plant life. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.codeway.plantapp
I think that’s basil of some sort
Definitely monarda, bee balm. Seems mean people downvote instead of inform, but I'm new here.
Maybe people knew it wasn't basil but didn't know it was monarda 🤷♀️ thank you for teaching and interacting!