Proven Winners Bee Balm True

About this plant

Add a burst of brilliant color to your garden with Monarda didyma 'Pardon My Cerise', also known as Proven Winners Bee Balm True. This outstanding perennial features masses of dazzling cerise-pink flowers that resemble shaggy pompoms, blooming profusely from mid-summer into early fall. Its vibrant blossoms are a magnet for an array of pollinators, making it an excellent choice for wildlife gardens and pollinator-friendly landscapes. 'Pardon My Cerise' stands out from other Bee Balm varieties due to its naturally compact and well-branched habit, reaching a modest height of 18-24 inches. This makes it an ideal pick for smaller gardens, containers, or the front to mid-border, where its cheerful blooms can be fully appreciated without overwhelming neighboring plants. Its tidy form and prolific flowering ensure a stunning display throughout its blooming season. Beyond its exquisite beauty, this cultivar boasts superior resistance to powdery mildew, a common issue with many Monarda varieties. This disease resistance, combined with its easy-care nature, makes 'Pardon My Cerise' a low-maintenance yet high-impact addition to any garden. Enjoy its captivating color and the lively buzz of bees and butterflies it attracts.

Installation timing

When we're in season, outside of the winter months, our goal is to get your plants installed within about two weeks. That window gives us enough time to secure your plants from our supplier and find a spot on the schedule. Throughout the process we stay in touch through notifications and your existing client portal on the main A Cut Above website, which is separate from this landscaping plants shop.

Care & maintenance

Monarda 'Pardon My Cerise' is relatively low maintenance. Provide good air circulation to further discourage powdery mildew. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage reblooming and maintain a tidy appearance. Divide clumps every 2-3 years in spring to maintain vigor.

Watering suggestions

Proper watering is the single most important factor in your plant's survival after installation. Newly installed plants have a limited root system and rely on you for consistent moisture while they establish.

• First 2 weeks: Water deeply every day (or every other day in cooler, wet weather), soaking the root ball and surrounding soil.
• Weeks 3–12: Water deeply 2–3 times per week, adjusting for rain, heat, and soil drainage.
• After establishment: Water deeply about once a week during the growing season, and more often in extreme heat or drought.
• How to check: Stick a finger 2–3 inches into the soil near the roots — if it's dry, it's time to water. Deep, less-frequent watering encourages strong roots; shallow daily sprinkles do not.
• Avoid: Overwatering (soggy, waterlogged soil) is just as harmful as underwatering and can drown roots.

Watering needs vary by plant, season, soil, and exposure. Because proper watering is the customer's responsibility after installation, please make sure you understand and can follow these suggestions before ordering.

Good to know: plants and trees purchased from and installed by A Cut Above include a one-year limited warranty from the date of installation. Because plant survival depends heavily on proper watering and care after installation, losses caused by improper care, neglect, animal or chemical damage, or extreme weather are not covered, and we must be given the chance to inspect a struggling plant before it's removed or replaced. Coverage is one replacement per plant. Read our warranty info.