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Hardiness: USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F) USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F) USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F) USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F) USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F) USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F) USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F) USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F) USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F) USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F) USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F) USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
Sun Exposure: Full Sun Sun to Partial Shade
Danger: Handling plant may cause skin irritation or allergic reaction
Bloom Color: Scarlet (Dark Red)
Bloom Time: Late Spring/Early Summer Mid Summer Late Summer/Early Fall
Foliage: Herbaceous Aromatic
Other details: This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Soil pH requirements: 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral) 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline) 7.9 to 8.5 (alkaline)
Patent Information: Non-patented
Propagation Methods: By dividing the rootball From herbaceous stem cuttings
Seed Collecting: N/A: plant does not set seed, flowers are sterile, or plants will not come true from seed
On Oct 21, 2007, Meredith79 from Southeastern, NH (Zone 5b) wrote:
My plants are in Part Shade, during the longest days of summer they get shade during mid afternoon. Then dappled light until sundown. My plants reached over 5 feet, I know this because I am only five feet and some were taller than me! I have sandy soil, and when the weather is dry so is my soil, so I use a soaker hose on these because they are very prone to powdery mildew. Mine start to get it as their bloom starts to slow down, they become very unnattractive, but when I can't stand them anymore, I just cut them right down to the ground and by late summer they have nice new foliage about a foot or so tall. Too bad my growing season is not long enough for them to rebloom, after such a haircut, but warmer areas might. I moved them to the middle and rear of my garden so the bare spots would not be noticed as much. These are worth having despite of ther powdery mildew, trust me! Everyone that sees them in my yard asks for some. The hummingbirds ignore everything else when these are in bloom. Just try to plant them in soil that does not dry out and if it does water with a soaker hose at their base for at least 4 hours and whatever you do, don't get water on there leaves! I have tried gathering seeds from these and red ones that are supposed to be the species and I have had no luck! I don't know if it is the birds or the little beetles that fall out of the dried flower heads but something must be eating them unless they just don't set seed. My other Monarda (pink and purple) have plenty of seed in them. They spread quickly though so you can always divide and transplant for more plants. I've heard some people say they are invasive, I don't think this is true. They spread but isn't that a good thing when a flower is so beautiful and beneficial to wildlife. I like the way they spread and fill in around my other perennials. It creates some beautiful combinations.
On Jun 27, 2006, LBCline from Minnewaukan, ND wrote:
I had to add this flower to my garden as it shares my son's name (Jacob Cline). I was hoping it would grow in North Dakota and it is! It is just about ready to bloom. Jacob plans to show at 4-H Achievement Days.
On Jun 15, 2006, GeorgiaJo from Dallas, GA (Zone 7b) wrote:
I dig up clumps frequently to plant in other areas and give to friends. It does need some sun (my original patch had real problems until I moved the plants to a more sunny area).
But part sun/shade will work. The hummers really love it and the large red flowers are a knockout.
On May 1, 2006, pineapplesage from Pewaukee, WI wrote:
This plant was the first that brought hummingbirds to my yard. Came back and spread quite a bit in my zone 5 garden. I did cut it back after blooming as it becomes quite unattractive.
On Mar 8, 2006, penpen from North Tonawanda, NY (Zone 6a) wrote:
The only drawback to this plant is it doesn't bloom all summer but while it is in bloom it is probably the first one my hummers visit when they come into my yard each day. They absolutley love it and so do I.
On Oct 22, 2004, CBernard from Perris, CA (Zone 9a) wrote:
I just planted one of these only the nursery spelled it Jacob Kline. Has anyone in So California had success with this plant? All the websites I find on the Internet come from the East Coast. I live in Perris, California. Thanks, Chuck
On Apr 14, 2004, herbman75 from Cornelia, GA wrote:
This plant is a member of the mint family, and will move readily throughout the garden. The variety 'Jacob Cline' is mildew resistant. Easy to propagate from cuttings. Occurs in the wild in partly shaded, low lying, moist areas. Makes a surprisingly long-lasting cut flower.
On Jun 29, 2003, Magazinewriter from Bloomfield Hills, MI wrote:
This plant looks great when paired with a tall yellow heliopsis (false sunflower). Other people have had problems with mildew; I have not.
I have given away many pots of bee balm to my friends, since it spreads profusely. Mine is in about two-thirds sun and one-third shade, and it grows straight up, about four feet tall.
People who plant it in more shady areas are getting blooms. However, in shade, the plant does not grow as straight or as tall.
I have enjoyed this plant for ten years. It is easy to grow and does well with part sun. My plants grew extremely tall this year and are blooming profusely now in June. When deadheaded, they sometimes come back and bloom again but not as strong. They are a bright addition in any garden. They can became invasive if they have a large area to take over, but easily managed.
Regional...
This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:
, Covina, California Denver, Colorado Frisco, Colorado New Milford, Connecticut Wauchula, Florida Cordele, Georgia Cornelia, Georgia Dallas, Georgia Thomasville, Georgia Lewiston, Idaho Edwardsville, Illinois Mount Prospect, Illinois Greenville, Indiana Solsberry, Indiana Andover, Kansas Hebron, Kentucky Henderson, Kentucky North Yarmouth, Maine Crofton, Maryland Edgewater, Maryland Silver Spring, Maryland Haydenville, Massachusetts Norton, Massachusetts Wayland, Massachusetts Westborough, Massachusetts Winchester, Massachusetts Bloomfield Hills, Michigan Trenton, Michigan Hooper, Nebraska Lincoln, Nebraska Hudson, New Hampshire Munsonville, New Hampshire Hoboken, New Jersey Mount Laurel, New Jersey Scotch Plains, New Jersey Binghamton, New York Bronx, New York Buffalo, New York Fishers Landing, New York Kinderhook, New York North Tonawanda, New York Ogdensburg, New York Poughkeepsie, New York West Islip, New York Yonkers, New York Elizabeth City, North Carolina Jacksonville, North Carolina Lake Toxaway, North Carolina Summerfield, North Carolina Tobaccoville, North Carolina Belfield, North Dakota Minnewaukan, North Dakota Fort Jennings, Ohio Hamilton, Ohio Stow, Ohio Salina, Oklahoma Bend, Oregon Dallas, Oregon Norristown, Pennsylvania Tioga, Pennsylvania West Chester, Pennsylvania Lexington, South Carolina Knoxville, Tennessee Arlington, Texas Garland, Texas Houston, Texas Nacogdoches, Texas Farmington, Utah Alexandria, Virginia Buchanan, Virginia Concrete, Washington Kalama, Washington Marysville, Washington Port Orchard, Washington Renton, Washington Vancouver, Washington Milwaukee, Wisconsin Pewaukee, Wisconsin