Monarda fistulosa 'Claire Grace' (Bee Balm)

'Claire Grace' is a showy cultivar of Monarda fistulosa, also called wild bergamot, a clustering, showy perennial wildflower known for its bright, attractive flowers and fragrant foliage. The 'Claire Grace' cultivar is noted for its slightly darker purple flowers, slightly more vibrant foliage, and better disease resistance than the straight species. As a beebalm relative, wild bergamot's hardy, showy blooms attract a wide variety of pollinators, hummingbirds, and people for their striking colors and aroma, and flowers bloom from the late spring well into mid autumn..

Typical specimens of Monarda fistulosa grow to 2-5' tall, and have the tendency to spread to form two or three foot wide clumps. While wild bergamot can have issues with powdery mildew, the 'Claire Grace' cultivar has some innate resistance. Clean, disease resistant leaves have a minty perfume scent, and can be used in pollinator gardens, meadows, small beds, or herb gardens for their use in teas and other consumables. This cultivar's attractive flowers, bright foliage, and powdery mildew resistance also earned 'Claire Grace' the title of Mt. Cuba Center Top Performer, earning a 4.5 out of 5 possible points.