Bee balm (Monarda spp.) is a beautiful perennial flower that is a must-have in any garden. The flowers have a light citrus scent and attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. They can even bring hummingbirds to your yard. While bee balm is a perennial in zones 4 through 9, it tends to die out in the middle over time. Learning how to propagate bee balm will help you replace older plants with new ones.
Propagating bee balm is relatively easy and can be done by sowing seeds, taking basal cuttings, or dividing existing clumps. Collect mature seeds from your plants once the seed pods turn tan. Viable seeds are black and may benefit from cold stratification. To do this, place the seeds between damp paper towels in a sealed bag in the refrigerator for 4 to 10 weeks. Then, sow the seeds in trays with seed-starting mix, keep the soil moist, and wait 10 to 40 days for germination.
Propagating bee balm from basal cuttings
Bee balm plants produce offshoots at the base of the main plant, which can be used for propagation as the clumps grow larger.
