Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Sugar Buzz® Blue Moon Bee Balm: Lavender-Blue Blooms Next Door
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Sugar Buzz® Blue Moon bee balm is a compact monarda with shaggy, lilac-blue flower heads sitting on collars of purple-tinted bracts. Blue-toned bee balms are uncommon, and finding one at this shorter, container-friendly height is rarer still.
For a lavender grower, that color is the draw. It is about as close to lavender's own shade as bee balm gets.
Blue Moon at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Monarda 'Sugar Buzz Blue Moon' |
| Flowers | Lavender-blue heads, 2 to 2.5 inches, on purple bracts |
| Foliage | Dark green, toothed; new growth tinted grayish purple |
| Size | About 20 inches tall, 18 to 22 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts early July, peaks mid-July |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 4 to 8 |
| Light | Full sun to part shade |
| Wildlife | Excellent for pollinators; deer resistant |
A blue-on-blue planting plan
Lavender and bee balm do not want the same soil. Lavender sulks in rich, moist ground; bee balm gets mildewed and stressed in dry, lean ground. The answer is two beds side by side: lavender on the sunny, sharply drained side, Blue Moon in an adjoining bed with better soil and a regular drink.
From a few steps back, the two beds blend into one band of purple-blue. Blue Moon starts in early July, so as the first lavender stems are cut for bundles, its heads pick up the color and keep the hummingbirds, butterflies and bees nearby. Sketch the two-bed layout in the Companion Plant Planner.
Keeping the leaves clean
Powdery mildew is the classic bee balm problem. Blue Moon was bred for good mildew resistance, and you can help it further:
- Give each plant room so air moves around the stems.
- Water during summer dry spells; drought stress makes mildew worse.
- Water the soil, not the leaves, and do it early in the day.
- Deadhead faded heads; it may reward you with a light rebloom in early fall.
It spreads by short, shallow rhizomes. Divide it in spring every two to three years to keep the center vigorous. Cut stems back in fall or leave them standing until spring.
From the garden to the teacup
The leaves and flowers are edible and used for herbal tea or as a garnish, like other bee balms. Brush the foliage and you get a strong minty, oregano-like scent. Stems are good for fresh bouquets too, and a few blue heads tucked into a bundle of fresh lavender look right at home.
Plug tray sizes
Blue Moon is offered in 72-cell and 20-cell plug trays. See each product page for current availability, or the Wholesale Hub for tray orders.
Frequently asked questions
Will it grow in a container?
Yes. Its compact size suits containers. Keep the potting mix evenly moist through summer.
Is Blue Moon truly blue?
It is a soft lilac or lavender-blue, deepened by the purple bracts at the base of each head.
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