Monarda didyma, often known as Bee Balm is a showy, herbaceous perennial with hairy mint-like leaves and clusters of spidery red and pink flowers through spring and summer.
Its leaves are used for culinary purposes like salads, stuffing or as an infusion.
Early European colonists discovered its properties as an infusion from the North American Indians.
Monarda 'Gardenview Scarlet' is one of the more popular varieties for general cultivation as it is more resistant to powdery mildew.
They are best planted en-masse in drifts and will attract butterflies, bees and birds to your garden.