Leading Lady Pink gets bee balm season started early, opening in early June in Michigan and carrying on into midsummer. Bright pink flowers with paler centers show off the small dark spots on each petal.
It stays about a foot tall in a compact clump that does not creep around the bed, so it suits the front of a border, containers and small gardens. The fragrant leaves are seldom browsed by deer, and the nectar draws butterflies, hummingbirds and honeybees.
What it looks like
Rounded flower heads are made of tubular, two-lipped florets in bright pink, fading to a pale pink throat where small darker spots stand out on the lower lips. Heads sit on pinkish bracts just above the foliage on short square stems. Leaves are opposite, oval to lance-shaped and medium to dark green. The plant forms a low, compact clump about 10 to 14 inches tall and 22 to 28 inches wide. At peak bloom bright pink heads are spread evenly over the top of the 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 bright pink 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: Bright pink with lighter, spotted centers
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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 × 22–28 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.