Proven Winners Bee Balm True (Pardon My Lavender)

About this plant

Monarda didyma 'Pardon My Lavender' is a compact and floriferous Bee Balm, offering a spectacular display of dazzling lavender-purple flowers from early to mid-summer. Unlike older, sprawling varieties, this Proven Winners selection maintains a neat, upright habit, making it perfect for smaller gardens, containers, or the front of a perennial border. Its unique, shaggy blooms are a magnet for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, enriching your landscape with life and color. Beyond its undeniable beauty, 'Pardon My Lavender' is celebrated for its exceptional disease resistance, particularly to powdery mildew, a common issue with other Monarda varieties. This ensures a healthier, more attractive plant throughout the growing season, requiring less maintenance and providing more enjoyment. The aromatic foliage adds another layer of sensory appeal, releasing a minty fragrance when brushed. Ideal for cottage gardens, pollinator gardens, or simply adding a splash of vibrant color, 'Pardon My Lavender' thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. It's a reliable workhorse that delivers season after season, bringing joy to both gardener and garden visitors alike.

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

Plant in well-drained soil in a location with good air circulation to further discourage disease. Water regularly, especially during dry spells, until established. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage rebloom and maintain tidiness. 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.