Botanical Name: Monarda didyma ‘Jacob Cline’ Common Name: Bee Balm Hardiness Zone: Perennial in Most Climates (USDA Zones 4–9) Size: 36–48" Tall × 24–36" Spread Growth Habit: Upright, Clump-Forming, Rhizomatous Perennial Sunlight: Full Sun to Partial Shade (Best Performance in Full Sun) Soil: Moist, Well-Drained Soil; Tolerates Clay with Drainage Water Needs: Moderate; Consistent Moisture Preferred Bloom Season: Early to Mid-Summer Fertilizer: Light Feeding in Spring; Avoid Excess Nitrogen Features: Brilliant Scarlet-Red Blooms, Exceptional Powdery Mildew Resistance, Aromatic Foliage, Deer Resistant, Pollinator Magnet Uses: Perennial Borders, Pollinator Gardens, Native Plantings, Rain Gardens, Cut Flowers

Patent: ❌ Not Patented Propagation: ✔ Propagation Allowed

See our complete Bee Balm Plant Guide for full care details.

More About Monarda ‘Jacob Cline’

Monarda ‘Jacob Cline’ is widely considered the gold standard of red Bee Balm, combining intense scarlet-red flowers with outstanding disease resistance. Selected in the Mid-Atlantic region, this cultivar was bred specifically to thrive in humid summers—making it especially reliable throughout the Southeast.

Large, rounded flower heads sit atop sturdy, upright stems and appear in early to midsummer, delivering bold color at a time when many perennials are between bloom cycles. The vivid red flowers are exceptionally rich in nectar and are among the most dependable hummingbird attractors in the perennial garden. The foliage is deep green, aromatic, and naturally deer resistant. When grown with adequate spacing and airflow, ‘Jacob Cline’ maintains clean foliage well beyond bloom, avoiding the powdery mildew issues common to older Monarda selections.

Why We Like It (Our Trials)

In our trials, ‘Jacob Cline’ has proven to be one of the most reliable long-term performers among tall Summer perennials. It stands up well to heat, humidity, and summer rain without flopping, and it returns stronger each year as clumps mature.

We especially appreciate its pollinator performance. Few plants draw hummingbirds as consistently, and bees and butterflies quickly follow. In mixed borders, it pairs beautifully with coneflowers, rudbeckia, ornamental grasses, salvias, and native perennials.

Jacob Cline vs. Other Bee Balm Varieties

Jacob Cline stands apart from the Balmy™ series in both scale and presence. While Balmy was bred for compact size, controlled growth, and container or front-of-border use, ‘Jacob Cline’ is a true midsummer powerhouse, reaching 3–4 feet tall with bold, scarlet-red blooms that command attention in the landscape. It delivers unmatched visibility and hummingbird activity compared to the smaller Balmy™ Lilac and Balmy™ Rose varieties, making it ideal for the middle or back of perennial borders, native plantings, and larger pollinator gardens. Although all four share excellent mildew resistance and strong pollinator appeal, ‘Jacob Cline’ excels where height, impact, and long-distance color matter most, while the Balmy™ selections shine in refined, space-conscious designs.