Monarda As a Cut Flower

Monarda, also known as bee balm, is a genus of plants belonging to the mint family, which are native to North America. They are named for Nicholas Monardes, a 16th-century Spanish botanist.

Colors

Monarda work well as cut flowers. The flowers have an aromatic fragrance and come in a range of colors including red, pink, violet, purple and white, depending on the specific variety.

Blooming

You can greatly increase the chances of a second blooming of your monarda plant by cutting the flowers after the first bloom. This second bloom will give you more cut flowers later in the season.

Preservation

To make sure your cut monarda flowers last as long as possible, put them into water immediately after cutting. When taking them from the parent plant, cut them at an angle. This cut will help them absorb water in the vase or container. Remove any foliage that would be underwater once the flower is put in a vase.

References

• Michigan State University Extension: Monarda didyma--Beebalm
• The Garden Helper: How to Grow and Care for Bee Balm Plants
• PlanTea: How to Preserve Fresh Cut Flowers--Naturally