What is another name for Monarda fistulosa?
Monarda fistulosa, the wild bergamot or bee balm, is a wildflower in the mint family Lamiaceae, widespread and abundant as a native plant in much of North America. Bee balm is Monarda didyma, a small perennial. Bergamot, Citrus bergamia, is a citrus fruit that grows on a tree. Wild bergamot, Monarda fistulosa, is a North American wildflower. Monardas are sometimes called bergamot because their leaves smell like the citrus fruit.Monarda is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. The genus is endemic to North America. Common names include bergamot, bee balm, horsemint, and oswego tea, the first being inspired by the fragrance of the leaves, which is reminiscent of bergamot orange (Citrus bergamia).Visually, they both have square stems and opposite leaves with serrated margins, but the two can usually be distinguished by their coloration. Bee balm often has vivid red, tubular flowers, while wild bergamot has lavender or sometimes pinkish flowers.
What is the problem with Monarda Fistulosa?
Monarda often declines in health after flow- ering and should be cut to the ground late in the summer to promote the regeneration of healthy shoots and leaves. Powdery mildew, the most common dis- ease problem associated with Monarda, often contributes to the poor condition of plants in late summer. Monarda are herbaceous perennials that die back to ground level each winter. Leave them standing over the winter months and cut back the dead stems to just above ground level in mid-spring.
Does monarda spread?
Yes, bee balm will spread via underground rhizomes that produce new growth. While it isn’t overly aggressive, you can take a few steps to prevent your bee balm from spreading. Site Requirements. Bee balms perform best in moist, well-drained soils in full sun. The planting site should receive at least 6 hours of direct sun each day. Plants won’t flower as heavily and are more susceptible to powdery mildew when grown in partial shade.Annuals To Plant With Bee Balm Annuals such as basil, squash, cucumbers, and tomatoes all benefit from the pollinators Bee Balm brings to the garden.Bee balm plants come back and multiply every year. Most gardeners divide their bee balm plants about every 3-4 years. After dividing your plants, plant them in another flower bed or share some with your gardening friends.
Is monarda a perennial?
Monarda plants are long blooming, bee-friendly perennials. Find out everything you need to know about bee balm plants, from choosing the right variety to where and how to plant and care for them. Bee balm (Monarda) is well known for having vibrantly coloured, fragrant flowers that attract bees and many other insects. Growing Bee Balm (Monarda) Because it spreads by “runners” which are underground stems or stolons, one plant can become many in just a year or two. But, because the roots are shallow (just a few inches deep) it is much easier to control than other members of the mint family so I welcome it in my garden.A slower propagation method is to take stem cuttings. Bee balm roots fairly easily from cuttings and can generally be planted in the garden the following year. Collecting seeds is a great way to start many plants at once, although the resulting plants may look different from the parent plant.Garden Care Of Bee Balm (Monarda) Monarda are herbaceous perennials that die back to ground level each winter. Leave them standing over the winter months and cut back the dead stems to just above ground level in mid-spring.Timing: The ideal time to harvest bee balm is when the flowers have just started to open fully but haven’t completely bloomed. This stage typically occurs in mid to late summer when the flowers are vibrant and fragrant.
Where is the best place to plant bee balm?
Bee Balm thrives in full sun to part sun. Full shade is the only sun option that won’t work well for Bee Balm. Bee Balm is a great native plant for beginning native gardens since it is happy in many types of light and soil. If your bee balm is young and healthy, you can deadhead and it will rebloom. That said, probably the best way is to prune some of them back in the spring so some of the flowering is delayed, up to 2-3 weeks.Bee balm does not require aggressive pruning, but regular maintenance throughout the year can benefit the plant’s health and appearance.If deadheaded, bee balm will continue to re-bloom until late summer, when the gardener may wish to leave the seed heads for hungry birds during the winter months.Trimming & Pruning: Deadheading bee-balm will encourage the plant to continue to set blooms from lower nodes late into the summer season. For best results, make sure to do so on a regular basis, and not just at the end of the first flush of bloom.Bee balm or bergamot (Monarda), another member of the indomitable mint family, also responds to deadheading. If you cut back perennial salvias such as ‘May Night’ (Salvia x sylvestris ‘Mainacht’) after their first May bloom, they will likely rebloom in July.