| Description | A medium tall, wide spreading group of perennials for the full sun areas of the garden |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | mon-NAR-da) |
| Plant Type | All Plants, Perennials Hardy |
| Hardiness Zone | 4-9 |
| Sunlight | full |
| Moisture | average, in moist sites they will expand rapidly becoming aggressive and invasive |
| Soil & Site | average |
| Flowers | The flower head consists of tubular flowers in a single or double row whorl around the center. Colors are white, rose, red, pink, purple, etc. Starts blooming in the middle of July lasting through August. |
| Leaves | The leaves are opposite, pointed and have a scent. |
| Dimensions | They reach 3-4 feet tall and will spread as far as you let them. New shorter cultivars are becoming available. |
| Maintenance | After blooming cut back to the ground. Cutting back eliminates the bare knee stems and the mildew laden leaves. Monarda dies out in the center and needs to be divided every 2-3 years. Dig healthy clumps and replant or dig out center and fill with compost. The plants will rapidly regrow. Should be placed behind a plant that will cover up the space left when Monarda is cut back. |
| Propagation | Mixed varieties can be grown from seed. Many of the cultivars need to be increased by division or cuttings. Division is by far the simplest method to use. |
| Misc Facts | This planted is called Oswego Tea because it was discovered by John Betram near Oswego, New York He used the leaves to make tea. The genus was named after Nicolas Monardes a 16th century botanist. ( |
| Notes & Reference | #04-Herbaceous Perennial Plants (Allan Armitage), #40-Herbaceous Ornamental Plant(Steven Stills) |
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