Monarda ‘Purple Rooster’ – Bee Balm

The second highest rated dark purple bee balm in the Mt. Cuba Monarda Trials, partly because it’s essentially mildew free. It was only beat out by ‘Dark Ponticum,’ a variety that has largely disappeared from horticulture, so we consider this the best dark purple bee balm that is actually available to gardeners. Found in 2009 in a batch of Bee Balm (M. didyma) seedlings by David & Nancy Nedveck of the Flower Factory  at  Stoughton, Wisconsin, we surmise it to be a hybrid with Wild Bergamot (M. fistulosa) because of the relatively narrow foliage and tendency to perform better on dryish, well-drained soils (Bee Balm in contrast likes it consistently moist).