A Beginner’s Guide to Growing Petite Delight Bee Balm

Petite Delight bee balm (Monarda ‘Petite Delight’) has become a gardener’s favorite for its compact size, vibrant blooms, and carefree nature. In this beginner’s guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about growing this colorful perennial in your own yard.

Petite Delight is a dwarf cultivar of Monarda didyma that was bred by Marshall’s Gardens in California. It reaches just 12-18 inches tall and 12-24 inches wide making it a perfect fit for containers borders, and small space gardens.

This compact bee balm forms clumps of upright square stems covered in fragrant shiny green leaves. From mid to late summer, it explodes into dense, globular flower heads comprised of tubular lavender-pink blooms topped with ruffly bracts. The blooms last for weeks and emit a lovely minty fragrance that butterflies and hummingbirds can’t resist.

Hardy in Zones 4-9, Petite Delight thrives in full sun to partial shade and moist, humus-rich soil. Good air circulation is key to preventing powdery mildew disease. It’s also deer and rabbit resistant, making it a great choice for gardens plagued by these furry pests.

How to Plant Petite Delight Bee Balm

Petite Delight can be planted in either spring or fall. Space the plants 18-24 inches apart in rows, groups, or clusters. Here are some tips for getting them off to the best start:

• Prepare the soil by mixing in compost or other organic matter to improve drainage and nutrient content.

• Water thoroughly after planting and mist the leaves until the plants are established.

• Choose a site with full sun to partial shade. Morning sun is ideal.

• Plant in raised garden beds or on slopes to improve drainage.

• Containerized bee balms can be planted anytime if watered properly. Bare root plants are best planted in spring or fall during dormancy.

Caring for Your Petite Delight Bee Balm Plants

Petite Delight bee balm is relatively low maintenance with proper care:

• Watering: Water regularly after planting and during droughts. Mature plants are fairly drought tolerant but provide 1-2 inches of water per week during summer months.

• Fertilizing: Apply a balanced fertilizer a couple times during spring and summer growth. Avoid heavy nitrogen fertilizers that cause floppy, leggy growth.

• Pruning: Cut back flower stems after blooming finishes to encourage new growth and reblooming. Also remove dead stems in early spring.

• Dividing: Clumps can be divided every 2-3 years in spring or fall to control spread. Dividing also rejuvenates the plants.

• Winter Care: Cut plants back in late fall then mulch the roots if winters are harsh in your area. Avoid fertilizing late in summer for healthiest dormancy.

• Pest/Diseases: Powdery mildew is common in humid climates. Improve air circulation and avoid wetting the foliage. Slugs may chew the leaves.

How to Maximize Flowering

Here are some tips for getting the most prolific floral display from your Petite Delight bee balms:

• Ensure plants get at least 6 hours of direct sun per day.

• Deadhead spent blooms to promote reblooming throughout summer.

• Cut back any faded flower stalks to encourage new growth.

• Pinch off 1/3 of new shoots in early summer to shape plants and delay flowering.

• Avoid excess nitrogen fertilizers that create lush foliage over flowers.

• Water regularly during the summer bloom period.

• Divide mature clumps every 2-3 years to rejuvenate flowering.

Using Petite Delight in the Garden

Though small, Petite Delight bee balm makes a big visual impact in gardens. Here are some great ways to showcase it:

• Mass in perennial or mixed borders for waves of color.

• Use in containers or window boxes for pops of pink.

• Plant in groups or swaths as a fragrant blooming groundcover.

• Mix with grasses, daylilies, Rudbeckia for summer interest.

• Edge walkways, patios, or ponds.

• Attract pollinators to vegetable and herb gardens.

• Naturalize in meadows or cottage gardens.

• Include in rock gardens or xeriscapes with sharp drainage.

Why Grow Petite Delight Bee Balm?

Here are just a few of the many reasons to add this petite powerhouse to your own garden:

• Long summer bloom period.

• Flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies.

• Deer and rabbit resistant.

• Compact size suits small spaces and containers.

• Tolerates heat, humidity, and some drought.

• Provides nectar for pollinators.

• Minty fragrance smells wonderful.

• Easy to grow and care for.

• Spreads slowly compared to other bee balms.

With proper care, Petite Delight bee balm is sure to delight both you and pollinators in your garden for years to come. Give this petite charmer a try this season!

Yes, bee balm plants are perennials, meaning they typically come back year after year. They will die back to the ground in the winter, but their roots will survive and sprout new growth in the spring.