Monarda didyma
Monarda didyma
The leaves are ovate, deep green and have a minty/bergamot fragrance when crushed, rubbed or infused.
The flowers are unique - a spectacular show of unusually shaped bright red flowers with reddish bracts.
It is cultivated for its leaves and flowers, which are used to make a fragrant, flavorful herbal tea traditionally enjoyed in Pennsylvania.
👨🌾GARDENING TIPS👨🌾:
This flower is NOT drought tolerant - though as we have seen in other situations, the future does not require only one set of skills and powers. What Monarda lacks in drought-tolerance, she more than makes up for in her ability to rewild a heavy clay soil garden, attract pollinators and other wildlife and bring beauty and medicinal uses while doing it. A few notes below:
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- The species is a hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by bees. The plant is self-fertile.
- Soil: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay soil. It prefers moist soil.
- pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils.
- Exposure: semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade.
The Tales:
The genus name comes from Nicolas Monardes, the first European to describe the American flora, in 1569
Among Native American tribes, including the Blackfoot poples, the leaves were macerated in oil and used as a mouthwash.
Beebalm is a natural source of the antiseptic thymol, the primary active ingredient in modern commercial mouthwash formulas.
The Winnebago people used the tea as a general stimulant - it's true that it has more of a ginger-energy kick than a normal mint tea.
The Native Americans of Oswego used the tea to treat excessive flatulence - using it as a carminative herb.
The plant attracts hummingbirds
Other Names:
Red Bee Balm
Crimson beebalm
Scarlet beebalm
Scarlet monarda
Eau-de-Cologne plant
Oswego tea
Bergamot
Origin:
North America
| Flowering | July, August, September |
| Flower Color | 🔴 Red, 🩷 Pink |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Frost Tolerance | -15°C to -20°C |
| Soil | Cool, Moist, Well-Draining |
| Planting Season | March to May, September to November |
| Foliage | Deciduous |