
Grow What Pollinators Love & Enjoy It In The Kitchen!
As I continue my 7 part series on the best edible flowers to grow in your garden, it's no surprise that growing what pollinators love is a recurring theme.
Bee balm, as the name implies, is loved by not only bees but also hummingbirds & butterflies. This post from GrowVeg explains why pollination is important to zucchini, but the same applies to other plants in the garden as well. After all, pollinators love landing on purple flowers, which increases the chances of them continuing to pollinate your plants.

Fast Facts: How To Grow Bee Balm
Plant spring or fall
Bee balm prefers full sun
Grows 2-4 feet tall
Plant 18-24" apart, and keep evenly moist while growing
Ensure it has airflow, as powdery mildew can occur
Deadhead to encourage new blooms
Check your zone to know if this is a perennial for your area
How To Use Bee Balm
While bee balm is pretty to look at, you can also eat the purple, slightly minty sage-flavored flowers & leaves. Steep 2 Tablespoons fresh petals like tea, or add to your favorite pasta dish as it can also taste like oregano! You may notice bee balm helps calm upset stomachs and nausea.
Not into tea? Crush the leaves and treat your scrapes from working in the garden. You can also create salve or, jellies. The petals of the flower look great against the greens of a salad. If you'd like more inspiration, I found doing an online search for bee balm gave me many ideas.