Monarda - Raspberry Wine

Monarda 'Raspberry Wine', also known as bee balm, is a vibrant and vigorous perennial that produces fragrant, raspberry-red flowers atop sturdy, upright stems. Blooming in mid to late summer, this variety is a pollinator magnet, attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds to the garden. Its aromatic foliage adds to its appeal, making it an excellent choice for cottage gardens, wildlife-friendly borders, and cut flower arrangements. Highly resistant to powdery mildew and deer, 'Raspberry Wine' offers bold color and long-lasting performance in sunny or partially shaded beds.

Key Features:

• Showy raspberry-red blooms with a wild, fringed appearance.
• Fragrant flowers and aromatic, minty foliage.
• Attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees.
• Mildew-resistant and deer-resistant.
• Excellent for pollinator gardens, borders, and cut flowers.
• Grows 36–42 inches tall and spreads 18–24 inches.
• Hardy in USDA Zones 4–9.

Plant Care Instructions:

• Light Requirements: Thrives in full sun to partial shade (minimum 4–6 hours of sun daily).
• Watering: Keep soil consistently moist; do not allow it to dry out completely.
• Soil: Prefers rich, well-drained soil with added organic matter.
• Temperature & Hardiness Zone: Hardy to Zone 4 (–34°C).
• Fertilizer: Apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring.
• Spacing: Space 18–24 inches apart to allow for airflow and prevent mildew.
• Pruning & Maintenance: Deadhead to prolong blooming. Cut back stems after flowering or in fall.
• Special Notes: Excellent for naturalizing and combining with echinacea, phlox, and rudbeckia in sunny beds.