Monarda 'Violet Queen'

Violet Queen Beebalm

Monarda ‘Violet Queen’ is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial bee balm with aromatic, dull green foliage and rich violet-purple to magenta-purple tubular flowers held in shaggy, rounded heads. Blooming in midsummer, it adds strong color to perennial borders, pollinator gardens, cottage gardens, rain-garden edges, and naturalized plantings. Mt. Cuba Center notes it as a prolific bloomer and very popular with bees.

Type: Herbaceous perennial
Mature Size: 2–3 ft. wide × 3–4 ft. tall
USDA Zones: 4a–9b
Form: Upright, clump-forming, spreading perennial
Light: Full sun to part sun
Soil / Water: Moist, rich, well-drained soil; medium to high water
Bloom Time / Length: July to August; several weeks of summer bloom
Wildlife: Attracts bees, bumblebees, butterflies, and hummingbirds; deer resistant

Features & Landscape Uses:
Excellent for pollinator gardens, rain gardens, moist borders, cottage gardens, cutting gardens, native-style plantings, and mass plantings. The violet-purple flowers pair well with yellow, white, pink, silver foliage, and ornamental grasses. Its color is somewhat softer than very dark purple Monarda selections, but still gives a strong cool-toned summer display.

Care:
Plant in evenly moist soil with good air circulation to reduce powdery mildew. Avoid dry, stressed conditions during hot weather. Deadhead after flowering for a cleaner look and possible rebloom. Divide every few years in spring if clumps become crowded or thin in the center.

Plant type

Perennial

Height

3-4'

Width

2-3'

Hardiness zones

4–9

Sunlight

Full Sun

Growth rate

Fast

Bloom time

Spring

Flower color

Lavender

Leaf color

Green

Fall color

Green

Attracts

Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds

Soil

Moist well-drained, Rich

Landscape use

Mass Planting, Moist Border

Shape

Clumping, Upright

Deer resistant

Yes

Drought tolerant

No