Bee Balm is a plant, not a shrub, so maybe we've got a name problem here? Could you post a picture of the plant (fairly close-up). I am also in NJ, and a lot of things have been late leafing out, with the weird weather we are having, so it might be nothing to worry about, no matter what the plant is.

Thanks! I guess yes it is a plant. I know that it is Bee Balm. I remember from when I planted it and all the hummingbirds. Right now it looks like nothing is growing. Just brown stick like pieces coming up from ground where I cut it back last fall. Maybe I cut it back too far?

If your Bee Balm is one of the monardas, it will grow from the roots. This page (http://www.rhonestreetgardens.com/2010_04_01_archive.html) has pictures of Monarda breaking dormancy about half-way down the page; take a look and see if it's what you're seeing in your garden.

Isn't a shrub a plant? Just learn to recognize the little leaves of a bee balm. You should see it spreading in this second growing season.

I bought those little ~$3 bee balm plants from Home Depot 2 years ago. Last year, it survived and spread, but there were still spots that I could see the ground. This year, it's definitely taken over the spot that it was growing in, and it is just full of bee balm plants. They are all about 12" tall right now and no ground is visible at this state.