bee balm

noun

1
: any of several monardas
especially : oswego tea
2

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Some of the best plants for attracting and feeding hummingbirds are bee balm, salvia, coralbells, columbine, cardinal flower, coral honeysuckle, trumpet vine, and Indian pink. Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Apr. 2023 Some of these flowering plants include bee balms, columbine flowers, daylilies, lupines and petunias. Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 10 Apr. 2023 Alyssum, irises, peonies, foxgloves, poppies, bee balm, cat mint, salvia, ornamental grasses, speedwell, red hot poker, yarrow, milkweed, pinks, coneflower, day lilies, lupines, succulents, larkspur and even certain herbs like lavender and sage are popular plants that deer avoid. oregonlive, 30 Oct. 2022 Where is our bee balm (Monarda), for example? Jeff Lowenfels, Anchorage Daily News, 15 July 2021 Annuals—like kochia, four-o'clock, strawflower, impatiens, moonflower, and angel's-trumpet—and perennials—like peony, bee balm, and hosta—can substitute for shrubs the first year or two. Viveka Neveln, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Feb. 2023 The agency is also asking people to plant and encourage the planting of good nectar sources like red clover, foxglove, bee balm, and joe-pye weed to give the besieged honey bees a boost. Smriti Rao, Discover Magazine, 26 Mar. 2010 Nectar-producing plants such as penstemon, bee balm, and columbine are attractive to hummingbirds. Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2023 These include columbine, bee balm, blanket flower, campanula, lavender, peonies, salvia, speedwell, and tickseed. Arricca Elin Sansone, Country Living, 8 Nov. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bee balm.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1836, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bee balm was in 1836

Dictionary Entries Near bee balm

Cite this Entry

“Bee balm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bee%20balm. Accessed 7 Jun. 2023.

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