Monarda

Botanical/Latin
   Monarda

Pronunciation
   Mon-ard-ah

Common Name
   Bee Balm, Bergamot, Oswego Tea

Hardiness zone range
   4 - 9

General Comments
Easy to grow plants with a succession of colorful, unusually shaped flower heads in shades of red, pink, lavender, and purple, carried from mid summer onwards on strong, four sided, angular stems above aromatic foliage. Easy to grow plants with a succession of colorful, unusually shaped flower heads in shades of red, pink, lavender, and purple, carried from mid summer onwards on strong, four sided, angular stems above aromatic foliage. Easy to grow plants with a succession of colorful, unusually shaped flower heads in shades of red, pink, lavender, and purple, carried from mid summer onwards on strong, four sided, angular stems above aromatic foliage. Easy to grow plants with a succession of colorful, unusually shaped flower heads in shades of red, pink, lavender, and purple, carried from mid summer onwards on strong, four sided, angular stems above aromatic foliage.

Uses
The qualities of a long flowering period and ease of culture have made them familiar favorites in old fashioned cottage gardens. Recent selections combine these attributes with improved disease resistance and an extended range of color and habit to allow a wide variety of uses in perennial or mixed beds and borders. The nectar rich flowers are magnets for butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees. The strong stems make fine cut flowers and the leaves can be picked to make a refreshing herbal tea. The foliage releases a pleasant, spicy fragrance when crushed or bruised, therefore making them good plants to place near paths, entrances, or alongside driveways, etc. This, together with the hairy nature of the leaves, helps to make them less palatable to deer and rabbits.

In moist, lightly shaded woodland, they can be planted in groups to form spreading drifts around the bases of trees and specimen shrubs. They are also useful in beds on the shady sides of buildings.

Light Preference
Sun to partial shade

Culture
They are tolerant of most soil types but generally perform best in rich soils that retain moisture in dry weather. The most popular varieties are hybrids derived from several native species and, as a general rule, the color of the flowers provide a clue to the degree of moisture needed; for example the hybrids with red and pink shaded flowers are derived mostly from Monarda didyma which prefers moist soils, whereas those with lavender and purple shades have inherited a greater tolerance for drier sites from the prairie and marginal woodland species Monarda fistulosa. This said, they all perform best when relieved of moisture stress, so at planting time the soil should be enhanced by adding compost or other humus media. A mulch also helps to keep the soil cool and retain the moisture in summer. An additional benefit is that the incidence of powdery mildew is reduced when plants are grown under these conditions. Removal of old flower heads will prolong the flowering period, and if the clumps become untidy, they can be cut back to ground level to regenerate and flower again in autumn.

Background
There are about 12 species, all are native to North America. The Ojibwa Indians made health drinks from the roots and the common name Oswego tea refers to the popular tea. The genus is named for Nicolas Monardes, a doctor and botanist from Seville, Spain, who wrote about medicinal plants from the new world in 1569. The best known species, M. didyma, was introduced to England by the famous botanist John Bartram in 1744. During the first half of the last century, several hybrids were selected and became regular members of traditional perennial borders. Most of these older cultivars are very susceptible to powdery mildew, so when modern day breeders concentrate on selecting new cultivars with improved disease resistance and a greater tolerance of drier conditions, we try them out and list the ones that in our experience perform best in our gardening zones.

Splendor Suggestions
When grown in partial shade, the flower stems will grow to face the sun, so when placing the plants try to find positions that will enable them to be viewed from angles that allow for this.

Companion Plants
Imagine the filigree of silvery foliage and soft lavender flowers of Perovskias (Russian Sage) and contrast that with the broad, grassy leaves and big, showy flowers of Hemerocallis (daylilies), and a low maintenance combination with multiple color options unfolds. The shades of pink, salmon, and red leave plenty of room for color experimentation. The lavender and purple varieties combine wonderfully well with the bright, yellow, daisy-like flowers of Heliopsis, Rudbeckias, and Ligularia 'Desdemona'; their bold leaves create interest even when they are not in flower. Blue foliaged Hostas like H. sieboldiana `Elegans' give nice definition and contrast in partially shaded conditions. Where sunnier partners are needed, try the pure white, scented flowers of the August lily, Hosta `Royal Standard'; Liatris `Kobold' and the white form L. `Floristan' also make good partners.