Monarda didyma 'Purple Rooster' (20)ct Flat
Family: Lamiaceae, Mint; Common name: Beebalm, Oswego Tea, Bergamot, Horsemint.
Zone 4 to 9.
Full sun to part shade, it will spread faster with afternoon shade;
Plants reach 36 inches tall and 26 inches wide, clump-forming perennial. Growth rate: moderate to fast; and perhaps aggressive in southern zones.
Large, royal purple flowers produced over most of the summer on clean, mildew-free plants that never required staking despite their three foot height.
Monarda tolerates most soil conditions, but will grow best in organic, medium-to-wet, moisture-retentive soils in full sun to part shade. Soil should not be allowed to dry out, beebalm is not drought tolerant. Beebalm does well in full sun or partial shade. Plants multiple rapidly by underground rhizomes, faster with shade, but will flower more in the sun. Division of plants every three to four years, in the spring, will keep them healthy and vigorous.
Landscape uses: borders, naturalized gardens, bee, butterfly and hummingbird gardens, wild or native plant garden, meadow, herb garden, naturalized planting or along ponds or streams. Attractive to bees, hummingbirds and butterflies, particularly in mass plantings. Monarda has a long summer bloom season, removing spent blooms will prolong bloom cycle. Deer resistant. A clump-forming member of the mint family member, the serrated, aromatic leaves smell like mint when crushed; and its wonderful for cut flowers. |