Leading Lady Amethyst starts blooming weeks before most bee balm, typically in the first week of June in Michigan, and carries on into midsummer. Its light amethyst-purple flowers are dotted with darker spots inside the petals.
The plant stays short and tidy at about 10 to 14 inches, forming a compact clump that stays where you put it. That makes it a good fit for the front of the border and for containers. The aromatic leaves are rarely bothered by deer, and the early nectar is welcome to bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
What it looks like
Rounded flower heads are made of tubular, two-lipped florets in light amethyst purple, with the lower lips freckled with small darker purple spots, sitting on purplish bracts. Heads are held just above the foliage on short, square stems. Leaves are opposite, oval to lance-shaped, medium to dark green and slightly glossy. The plant forms a low, compact clump about 10 to 14 inches tall and 18 to 22 inches wide. At peak bloom the pale purple heads dot the entire top of the low mound.
Growing it with lavender
Bee balm prefers richer, more evenly moist soil than lavender, so set it in a neighboring bed with better soil and regular water, where its amethyst heads carry on the summer color and bee traffic near your lavender.
Care
Plant in full sun to part shade in average to fertile soil and water regularly; this compact type does not like to dry out completely. Hardy in zones 4-8. Good air flow keeps the glossy leaves healthy, and trimming spent flower heads tidies the plant after bloom.
At a glance
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Botanical name: Monarda
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Flower color: Light amethyst purple with darker spots
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Foliage: Green
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Growth habit: Compact, low clump
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Mature size: 10–14 in tall × 18–22 in wide
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USDA hardiness zones: 4–8
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Light: full sun, part sun to part shade
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Bloom start: Early-June
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Peak bloom: Mid-June
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Bloom pattern: Long Blooming
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Deer resistance: Resistant
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Pollinator value: Excellent
Sizes and shipping
One full 72-cell plug tray: 72 young starter plugs of this variety (cells about 1⅓ in. wide × 2½ in. deep), rooted and ready to pot up into quarts or gallons. Best for growers and nurseries. Potted plants and plug trays ship during our live-plant seasons, March 1–May 31 and October 1–November 30; June through September is local pickup only. Plugs, potted plants and trays do not ship to AZ, CA, HI, ID, NV, OR, UT or WA.