Tim Spuckler's Blog » Bee Balm http://thirdeyeherp.com/wordpress1 Reptile Ramblings and More Fri, 28 Aug 2026 14:26:30 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Bee Balm http://thirdeyeherp.com/wordpress1/2012/07/09/bee-balm/ http://thirdeyeherp.com/wordpress1/2012/07/09/bee-balm/#comments Mon, 09 Jul 2012 12:47:48 +0000 tspuckler http://thirdeyeherp.com/wordpress1/?p=702 Continue reading →]]> When I first saw Bee Balm I knew that it was something that I wanted growing in my yard, due to the crazy-looking flower this plant has. I was a bit surprised to find out that Bee Balm is native to Ohio, though the wild version does not have the vibrant colors that the cultivated varieties feature. Here a few that I saw while walking the Canal Towpath.

The flowers are well known to attract hummingbirds and insects, such as bees, butterflies and beetles. This plant is a member of the mint family and one characteristic of mints is a square stem. It’s kind of weird to feel a plant stem with “corners,” but Bee Balm has them.

It’s fragrant leaves are often used to make potpourri. Bee Balm has been used in folk medicine as a “mint tea” to treat respiratory and digestive ailments. The oil from this plant is an essential flavoring ingredient in Earl Grey tea.

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