Pollinator Plant of the Week: Bee Balm
June 22, 2026 | News
If you’re looking to add color, fragrance, and nonstop pollinator activity to your garden, Bee Balm deserves a spot on your planting list. With its unique firework-like blooms and long flowering season, this native perennial is a favorite among bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Bee Balm thrives in the Treasure Valley and brings a vibrant, cottage-garden feel to sunny landscapes.
Why We Love Bee Balm
Bee Balm isn’t just beautiful, it’s one of the hardest-working plants in a pollinator garden.
Pollinator Powerhouse
As its name suggests, bees absolutely love Bee Balm. Its nectar-rich blooms also attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and other beneficial insects throughout the summer. Adding Bee Balm to your landscape helps support local pollinator populations while creating a garden full of life and movement.
Long-Lasting Color
Bee Balm begins blooming in early to mid-summer and often continues for weeks, providing reliable color when many spring perennials have finished flowering. Its vibrant red, pink, purple, and lavender blooms make a bold statement in garden beds and borders.
Easy to Grow
Once established, Bee Balm is a dependable perennial that returns year after year. It performs best in full sun to part shade and appreciates regular watering during the hottest parts of summer.
Growing Tips
- Plant in full sun for the best flowering.
- Provide consistent moisture, especially during hot summer weather.
- Divide every few years to maintain vigor and prevent overcrowding.
- Deadhead spent blooms to encourage additional flowering.
- Allow some flowers to remain for pollinators and seasonal interest.
Perfect Pairings
Create a pollinator paradise by combining Bee Balm with other summer bloomers such as:
- Echinacea (Coneflower)
- Agastache
- Salvia
- Yarrow
- Gaillardia
Together, these plants provide continuous nectar sources and colorful blooms from early summer into fall.
Visit FarWest
Bee Balm is a favorite gathering place for pollinators. Stop by FarWest to explore our selection of Bee Balm varieties and discover more pollinator-friendly plants that will keep your garden buzzing all summer long.