Monarda - Bee Balm

The Monardes (Monarda) are rhizomatous perennials that produce astonishing disheveled flowers. These bushy, hardy plants have square and villous stems with highly fragrant tubular flowers. They are easy to grow, they like fresh, humus-rich, and well-worked soil in sunny locations. As they are melliferous plants, they attract butterflies. These plants are aromatic, Monardes can consumed as infusions or as tea for their medicinal properties (diuretic, carminative, antiseptic, etc.). In cooking, their dried or fresh flowers are used in savory and sweet meals like in a fruit salad, mixed in with raw vegetables, added with meats or fresh cheeses. You can also infuse the flowers  to add to creams, desserts, or syrups.