Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
What’s not to love about the ‘Leading Lady Amethyst' Monarda? This flowering beauty has light amethyst flowers with contrasting dark spots on the oblong petals. The petals surround purple styles that provide additional color and texture. This plant is a Monarda hybrid, and it blooms from early to mid-summer. Also known as Bee Balm or Bergamot, this plant is clump-forming which means it keeps a relatively compact footprint and can easily be propagated through division.
Bee Balm is native to North America, and it is known for fragrant flowers and foliage. This plant makes an excellent filler in containers and borders, it can be used in landscape and mass plantings, and it is also great to use as cut flowers. As the name Bee Balm implies, this plant attracts bees, along with hummingbirds and butterflies. ‘Leading Lady Amethyst' Monarda grows as a perennial in USDA zones 4 through 8.
Leading Lady Amethyst Bee Balm Care
Monarda is adaptable and can handle part sun or full sun. This plant will thrive with at least 4 to 6 hours of sunlight, and it will not mind if it receives more. Bee Balm has high water needs, so give the plant a drink before the soil dries out, and remember that container-grown plants will dry out sooner and need water more often. Monarda prefers rich, fertile soil with a pH of 6.5 to 8.0. Amend the soil with compost or manure when planting and top dress the soil with organic material in the spring. Feed the plant in the spring using a balanced fertilizer.
Deadhead the plant, or remove spent flowers to promote more blooms. Once established plants reach 1 foot tall, you can pinch back new growth, encouraging the plants to spread out and cover a wider area. Trim back in the fall to prepare for winter.
Leading Lady Amethyst Bee Balm Spacing
Monarda is a short plant that grows 10 to 14 inches tall but can spread out to cover an area 22 to 28 inches wide. When planting, space plants 22 to 28 inches apart, so as they fill in, they will create a lush wall of flowers.
Leading Lady Amethyst Bee Balm Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 4 to 8 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Part Sun to Full Sun (5+ Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 1 Foot
- Mature Spread
- 1-2 Feet
- Growth Habit
- , Clumping
- Water Needs
- Consistently Moist
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , Purple
- Flower Description
- Light Amethyst Purple
- Bloom Time
- Summer
- Foliage Color
- , Green
- Foliage Description
- Green
- Foliage Type
- , Herbaceous
- Seasonal Interest
- , Summer Flowering
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Leading Lady Amethyst Bee Balm
- Also Known As
- Bergamot, Horsemint, Oswego Tea
- Botanical Name
- Monarda hybrid USPPAF, Can PBRAF
- Brand
- Proven Winners
- Plant Type
- Perennial
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
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We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2026 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!