Conservation Specialist
copyright 2010
Monarda ‘Colrain Red’ is a beebalm variety that is noted for his unusual violet-red flowers, reliable performance and resistance to disease. He has nice sturdy stems robust foliage that has a distinct mint fragrance when bruised or crushed. He stands taller than many bee balms at a uniform height of 36-40”s. He has a very handsome full habit!
This bee balm entertains onlookers and wild life with his crown of jester-like tubular flowers collared by red-tinged bracts. These humorous tubular projectiles are actually the humming bird’s sippy straws. They encircle the rims of ever expanding brunet domes. Over time these domes develop” bald spots” that become the landing site for butterflies!
Eventually the flowers go completely bald, creating a chocolate brown “tootsie pop” look that becomes a uniquely dominate look by the end of the flowering cycle.
M. ‘Colrain Red’ is easily grown in average medium to wet soils in full sun or morning sun- afternoon shade. He does best when not overly drought stressed! Individual deadheading (removing just his spent flowers) is sometimes considered the standard care practice but I do not recommend it as an efficient way to improve his appearance. (I just do it because I like grooming him and telling him how handsome he is!)
Care Factor Rating: 3 This balding, ‘I’m finished” look is a perfect timing indicator to prune Monarda / beebalm to the ground and re-trim his roots. This is the second time in a season for root-pruning, the first being during the spring clean up! During spring clean-up cut back all the old foliage from last year and then cut around the crown and through the roots like you are cutting a cake away from it's pan. Remove any roots or crown portions that have stretched beyond the designated space for this plant.
Cut all the stems to the ground right after flowering. This allows the foliage a chance to re-grow and limits reseeding. Then he can finish the season, short but sweet! (NOTE: He will not re-attain his peak height -consider this and place a fall attraction behind him) This “in season” hard cut back also gives a visual opportunity for accessing the spacing allotment for him.
Bee balm usually matures by 4-5 years and looks most balanced when allotted about the same width space as mature height. Tossing a few strangler roots that have escaped the ”set” boundaries or clearing away some other exuberant neighbor to give him more space to breathe will significantly improve both the look and the growth!
MORE CARE TIPS: Although growth rate can be much slower in harsh conditions-still root prune around the crown’s “intended” perimeter at this time. This will encourage a compact tight habit as well as limit root growth outside the boundaries and encourage root growth within the area. This helps him fill out and look his best! Almost all Monarda / beebalm will push you to the edge if you let them. They are great but they do need boundaries set both in the spring and again mid-summer.
Lift the whole root mass/ /clump and dividing it into thirds every 4-5 years. Replant only one third! This is best done during spring clean-up. This helps prevent overcrowding and control the “I’m still trying to spread” rhizomes (runners) from intermingling with plant neighbor’s roots. This also renews the air circulation which is essential for helping manage fungal leaf diseases.
(Side note-I keep hearing mention of “bright red florets with a touch of yellow”- The plant that I received from a reputable grower with this label has a color that is defiantly more violet red and with no yellow-closer to M. ‘Raspberry Wine’ but larger and much more robust! This looks great next to Echinacea purpurea / Purple cone flower. I have it right now next to a deep colored coleus)
Also Powdery mildew can be a serious problem with some of the Monardas / beebalm, however, Chicago Botanical Garden reported this cultivar to have good mildew resistance. My planting has been very stressed for many reasons and has no mildew at a time when most are covered! Rust can be an occasional problem-none of that noted at this time either-hooray!
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