Monarda didyma
Bee balm
Common names: Scarlet beebalm, Oswego tea
At a glance
- Light
- Full sun
- Pot size
- from 15 l
- Lifespan
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Hardy down to −28 °C
- Water need
- High
Photo: Joe Schneid, Louisville, Kentucky · CC BY 3.0 · Source
Description
Monarda didyma, commonly known as Indian sage, goldmallow, scarlet monarda, or bee balm, produces striking, crown‑shaped flower heads in scarlet, pink, or violet from July to September. The aromatic foliage smells of bergamot and mint and has been traditionally brewed into tea. The plant reaches about 80 to 120 cm tall and adds vivid color to summer perennial beds.
Care instructions
Plant in nutrient‑rich, evenly moist soil in full sun or light partial shade. Water generously during dry periods, as the plant is prone to powdery mildew under drought stress. Provide good air circulation and divide the clump every two to three years to prevent mildew. Deadhead after flowering; harvest young leaves and flowers in midsummer for tea. In spring, remove the previous year’s foliage close to the ground.
The care notes were machine-translated from German.
Garden year
SowingMar–Apr
HarvestJul–Sep
Germination
- Soil temperature
- from 15 °C, ideally 20 °C
- Days to sprout
- 14 to 28 days
- Light
- Needs light to sprout
- Sowing depth
- Press in, don't cover
- How to start
- Start indoors, then plant out
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
humus-rich, well-drained, moist, nutrient-rich, loamy
Your soil should be humus-rich, evenly fresh to moist and free-draining, because bergamot does not tolerate waterlogging. On sandy soil, work in plenty of compost; on heavy loam, loosen it with sand; a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0 to 7.0) is ideal.
Feeding
Medium feeder
Months
Mar–May
Feed in spring as new growth starts (around mid-April) by working in well-rotted compost shallowly. That is enough for the plant for the whole season. Go easy on nitrogen: too much makes the shoots soft, prone to mildew and shy to flower. Skip an autumn feed, so that the tissue ripens in time and the plant stays hardy.
Overwintering
Bergamot is a fully hardy perennial and survives the winters of the lowlands of Germany, Austria and Switzerland in the ground without protection. Cut the wilted shoots back close to the ground in autumn and remove the cuttings in spring when new growth appears; only cover freshly planted young plants in their first winter with a little foliage or brushwood.
Propagation
Methods
- Division
- Cuttings
- From seed
The simplest and most reliable method is division every two to three years: lift the rootstock in early spring before new growth starts and divide it into several pieces with a sharp spade. Each piece needs its own roots and at least one shoot. Dividing in autumn is also possible, but then protect the young plants in their first winter with a layer of leaves.
For cuttings, in early summer (May to June) cut half-ripe shoots without flowers or buds, about 10 to 15 cm long. Remove the lower leaves and leave only the upper ones. Insert the shoots in moist seed compost; rooting is fairly quick. This way, the variety characteristics are preserved.
Sowing is more demanding and does not give plants true to variety. Monarda needs light to germinate: sow the seeds on a windowsill from February or directly outdoors in April, but hardly cover them with soil. Keep the compost evenly moist at around 15 to 20 °C; germination takes one to three weeks. By early autumn the young plants are strong enough to plant out.
Companion planting
Good neighbors
nightshade family (Solanaceae)
particularly well establishedYou will find that basil next to tomato and pepper improves taste and keeps whiteflies and aphids away.
For example PotatoTomatoSweet pepperCocktail tomatoEggplantCape gooseberry and 14 more species in the catalogue
Source: classic companion planting (DACH-Gartenpraxis)
cabbage family (Brassicaceae)
You will notice that the intense scent of basil, thyme, and others confuses the cabbage whitefly and keeps it away from the cabbage family.
For example White cabbageKohlrabiRadishKalebroccolicauliflower and 41 more species in the catalogue
Source: bio-gardening intercropping practice
Companion planting is partly traditional gardening lore. Where the reason is known, it is given.
Some of these explanations were machine-translated.
For your garden
Grow Bee balm yourself
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