Monarda, commonly known as bee balm or wild bergamot, is
a native perennial flower that provides pollen and nectar for numerous types of
pollinators and seeds for the birds. It is also a dramatic and attractive
flower in its own right.
It prefers consistently moist soil that receives full sun
to part shade.
Monarda is almost care-free in the garden, except that it
is vulnerable to powdery mildew, a fungal infection that can look unsightly and
cause a loss of the lower leaves, but will not kill the plant. One way to
address this is to plant it at the back of the border to disguise the infected
lower foliage. Another way is to select Monarda varieties that are more
resistant to the powdery mildew.
Our cover story in the January 2017 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine by George
Coombs detailed the Monarda trials held at the Mt. Cuba Center in Hockessin,
Delaware. They went through three years of evaluations to determine disease-resistance
as well as other desirable traits. The top performers include ‘Claire Grace,’
‘Violet Queen,’ ‘Raspberry Wine,’ ‘Purple Rooster,’ ‘On Parade,’ and
‘Gardenview Scarlet.’
Monarda is also an herbal plant and is a member of the
mint family. It releases a pleasant scent when you crush a few of its leaves.
But like its mint cousins, it has a spreading habit, so surround it by
companion plants that can help keep this rampant grower in check.
Monarda should be divided every 3-5 years. Without division,
the center of the plant will start to die out, creating a blank hole in the
middle. If that happens, replace the dead interior section with a chunk from
the healthy, outside area of the plant. You can also easily dig and share a
portion with a fellow gardener as well. The best time for division is in late
summer to early fall.
Monarda - You Can Grow That!
The video was produced
by Washington Gardener Magazine.
Visuals by Taylor
Calavetinos
Audio by Kathy Jentz
➤ If you enjoy this video, please give it a thumbs up
and subscribe to our Youtube
channel (thank you!)
➤Remember to TURN ON notifications to know when our new
videos are out
➤ FIND Washington Gardener Magazine ONLINE
~ Facebook.com/WashingtonGardenerMagazine
~ Podcast: GardenDC on Spotify, Apple, etc.
PIN THIS FOR LATER!
No comments:
Post a Comment