Monarda didyma 'Coral Reef'

Monarda didyma 'Coral Reef' brings a warm, unusual color to the beebalm world, with hot pink blooms carrying distinct coral overtones that open from June through frost atop glossy, dark green foliage. The tubular, whorled flowers sit above aromatic leaves that release a minty fragrance when crushed, drawing in bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds all season while holding up well as a cut flower. Its upright, mounded habit reaches 24 to 36 inches tall and wide, and the plant has earned a reputation for notably strong resistance to powdery mildew, the fungal issue that plagues so many older bee balm varieties.

'Coral Reef' grows best in full sun to part shade, with afternoon shade actually encouraging faster spread, and it wants consistently moist, organic soil to look its best. Hardy from zones 3 to 8, it's an easy, reliable perennial for borders, pollinator gardens, and cutting gardens alike, and its deer resistance makes it a dependable choice where browsing pressure is high. Because monarda spreads readily by underground stems, giving plants good air circulation and thinning mature clumps periodically will keep them healthy and further reduce any mildew risk.

This selection is the product of a controlled breeding program at the Morden Research Centre in Manitoba, Canada, where breeder Campbell G. Davidson made the original cross in 1990, pairing Monarda didyma 'Mahogany' as the female parent with 'Marshall's Delight' as the male parent. A single standout seedling was selected in 1993, initially numbered 9301 and later known internally as 'Baileef' through further field trials, before being released commercially as 'Coral Reef' (trade name ACreef) and patented in 2006 under PP16,741, with the patent assigned to the Canadian government. The genus Monarda itself honors Nicolás Monardes, a 16th-century Spanish physician whose writings were among the first published accounts of New World flora, and the species has long been used by Native Americans and early settlers to flavor teas — a nod to its common name, Oswego tea.

Photo Credit: Stonehouse Nursery & Bailey Nursery

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Monarda didyma 'Coral Reef'

In the wild Monarda can be found along riverbanks and as a result prefers rich soil, but it will grow in average soil as well. Full sun is best, but it will tolerate light shade, where it will spread more quickly, but be less dense and have fewer blooms. Monarda reproduce rapidly through underground rhizomes. They will also respond well to deadheading. Powdery mildew is a common fungal problem as it is best to purchase a cultivar that has resistance, at New Blooms we only carry resistant cultivars because powder mildew is common. As an additional preventative measure plants should be thinned out when they become overly thick - increasing airflow and soil should be kept moist with supplemental watering and a yearly application of mulch.