What part of bee balm is edible?

All above ground parts of the plant are edible. The leaves and flowers can be eaten raw or cooked. Bee balm has a minty taste and a flavor similar to oregano. It also has a citrusy aroma.

What part of bee balm do you harvest?

Once bee balm flowers begin to bloom, pick them often to encourage more growth. Harvest them by cutting 8 to 10 inches worth of stem. If using for teas, tie the stems together and hang upside down until the flowers dry and are brittle to touch. Then, crush the stems, leaves and flowers and store in a sealed container.

Is bee balm toxic to humans?

It's leaves are used to make tea. Bee balm is not poisonous for humans. In fact, eating the leaves will not harm a cat, dog or other animals in any way. Despite not being poisonous to animals, eating parts of any plant can cause digestive upset to an animal.

Can you use the leaves of bee balm?

Bee balm leaves can be used any way you'd use oregano and can be harvested any time during the growing season. The flavor of the leaves is slightly stronger than that of the flowers. Both foliage and flowers are delicious fresh or dried.

How do you prepare bee balm?

Edible Plants:Bee Balm

How do you harvest bee balm leaves?

Harvest by clipping the base of the stalk. Gather the stalks by their stems, tie the ends, and hang to dry. Or you can pluck the leaves and petals from the stalks, spread them out on a screen and allow them to dry naturally away from dust and sunlight. Depending on the humidity level, drying can take 1-2 weeks.

Should you Deadhead bee balm?

When to Deadhead Bee Balm. Bee balm (Monarda) begin to bloom in July and will continue to bloom throughout late summer. To encourage bountiful clusters of flowers, you will want to deadhead the plant throughout its entire bloom time. As the flowers begin to wilt and fade, cut just above the next flower bud.

How do you use fresh bee balm?

Fresh bee balm leaves can be added to pesto, and the flower petals make a pretty and aromatic garnish. They can be used in salads, to make an herbal butter, or in homemade ice cream or a cream cheese spread. Bee balm petals are also a lovely way to dress up fresh fruit or a fruit salad like this one.

Can I cook with bee balm?

Season your meats. Lamb and fish can be seasoned using dried and crumbled Bee Balm. Use it in place of Oregano or in addition to it for a mild minty flavor that is still quite savory and a nice addition to your meat dishes. 8.

What do you do with bee balm after it blooms?

Once a stem has finished flowering, trim it back down to the ground or pinch it off. This will encourage the plant to send up another blossoming stem. In the fall or winter, you should prune bee balm after it has died back. Take it back down to just above the soil's surface.

Can you eat bee balm raw?

It is also a tasty edible addition for people. All above ground parts of the plant are edible. The leaves and flowers can be eaten raw or cooked. Bee balm has a minty taste and a flavor similar to oregano.

Should you cut back bee balm in the fall?

Cutting Back Bee Balm For Winter

As a general rule, cut the plant back after the first frost in the fall. Waiting until fall will allow the plant to drop it's seeds for the next growing season. If you do not want the plant to spread as much, then cut some of the plant back prior to fall.

Is bee balm an herb?

Bee balm is a perennial herb, which means that once planted, it should come back each spring even as the above ground growth dies back during the winter.

What does bee balm tea taste like?

What Does Bee Balm Tea Taste Like? I really love the taste of bee balm tea. If you've never tried it, it has a slightly minty flavor. That makes sense since monarda is in the mint family, but the flavor is milder than other varieties.

Is bergamot the same as bee balm?

One of the loveliest of the flowering herbs, Bee Balm (also known as Bergamot), is a great attractor for hummingbirds and bees. Known also as beebread plant, Oswego tea, horsemint, and simply monarda, its leaves have a strong fragrance reminiscent of the bergamot orange.

How do you get seeds from bee balm?

Gathering Bee Balm Seeds

Instead of deadheading the plant, allow the flowers and stalks to dry out and turn brown. Once dry, cover the plant with a bag. Cut the plant ensuring that the entire stalk falls into the bag. Shake the contents of the bag and the seeds will fall off.

Is bee balm and lemon balm the same?

Bee Balm and Lemon Balm are not the same plant but both are members of the mint family, Lamiaceae. The visual difference is Bee Balm is larger and produces deep red flowers while Lemon Balm is smaller and has small white flowers.

Is bee balm an antiviral?

Rich in aromatic essential oils, monarda is antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, vermifuge, respiratory, carminative digestive, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant. It supports the immune system and is valued in traditional remedies for colds, flu, sinus congestion, whooping cough, and other upper respiratory problems.

Is red bee balm edible?

It's a potent medicinal and a tasty edible too. There are two main varieties, Monarda didyma, or scarlet bee balm is what you'll see most commonly in garden perennial beds. Monarda fistulosa, or wild bergamot, is the wild version native to the United States.

Is bee balm in Earl GREY tea?

It is not. The Bergamot Oil added to Earl Grey is Citrus bergamia, an entirely different plant. Bee Balm is used as a tea, for both medicinal effects and for a pleasant flavor.

Does bee balm smell like oregano?

Also known by its scientific name, Monarda, it's a flowering plant genus in the mint family. It's also known as horsemint and wild bergamot, and is native to North America. This flower—which smells a bit like oregano—is one of the best pollinator-attracting plants you can have in your garden.

Does bee balm spread?

Bee balms spread rapidly via underground stems or stolons. In addition, the centers of the clumps often die out within a few years. To control their spread and rejuvenate the plants, it's usually necessary to dig and divide bee balms every 2 to 3 years. Early spring is the best time to dig and divide bee balms.

Does bee balm like sun or shade?

Growing bee balm plants isn't hard, if you keep their soil evenly moist. Plant monarda in spring or fall in a spot that gets full sun. Bee balm tolerates partial sun, but you'll get fewer flowers. Space monarda plants 18 to 24 inches apart in organically rich soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.7 that drains easily.

Does bee balm rebloom after deadheading?

Deadhead the Flowers

Bee balm begins blooming in early summer and continues through late summer and early fall. As the flowers begin to fade, snip off the blossoms before they form seed heads. This encourages the plants to produce more flowers. It also helps reduce reseeding in the flowerbeds.