Perennial · Lamiaceae family
scarlet beebalm
Monarda didyma
In short a 10-second read
Scarlet beebalm (perennial) grows to 0.6–1.2 m tall and 0.6–0.9 m wide when mature. It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average to moist soil. It flowers in July–September; the flowers are red, pink or purple. Hardy to −32 °C.
× spread 0.6–0.9 m
Where to plant
Sun, soil, frost.
It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average to moist soil. Hardy to −32 °C.
Sun
Tolerates several positions — choose to suit the rest of the garden.
Soil and water
average to moist · watering: moderate
Soil: humus-rich, clay, loamy
Soil pH 5.5–7.5
Frost
It copes with a normal winter outdoors.
How much space it takes
Mature size.
The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).
Next to a person
Reaches maturity in about 2–5 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.
Calendar
What to do and when.
Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.
The year at a glance
Flowers
July–September · red, pink or purple
Pruning
deadhead spent flowers (as needed); cut back to the ground (September–November)
Planting
container plant: March–May, September–November
Winter protection
protect from winter wet
Overwintering
In winter it needs protection.
Before the first frosts: protect from winter wet.
- Protect from winter wet
- Hardy to −32 °C
- Dies back in winter and regrows in spring
Frequently asked
Quick answers.
When does scarlet beebalm flower?
In July–September; the flowers are red, pink or purple.
Does scarlet beebalm tolerate shade?
It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.
How much space does scarlet beebalm need?
At maturity 0.6–0.9 m wide and 0.6–1.2 m tall; recommended spacing 45 cm.
Does scarlet beebalm survive winter outdoors?
Yes, with protection: protect from winter wet.
Where the data comes from
We compared the data in 17 expert sources. Last checked 14 October 2026.
Show sources (17)
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Monarda didyma
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder — Monarda didyma
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Monarda didyma
- GBIF Occurrence Search API — Monarda didyma
- Wikidata (CC0) — Monarda didyma
- RHS - Monarda didyma
- Iowa State Extension - How to Plant Perennials
- RHS - How to grow perennial plants
- Perennials.com
- Perennials.com
- Perennials.com
- Invasive plant lists — this species is not on them: EU, Slovakia, Czechia, Germany, Poland, Denmark
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