Bergamot, Monarda

Monardas have cottage-garden like flowers which attract plenty of bees. The colours range from scarlet to white. Flowering from early August into September, they make a good addition to the late summer border. The seed-heads continue well into the winter.

Recommended varieties

Monardas give good height, growing from 90cm to 1.5m (3ft to 5ft) high. The flower scent is similar to that of the bergamot orange, which is used to flavour Earl Grey tea (hence its common name). As well as the old varieties, such as M . 'Cambridge Scarlet', dark purple 'Prärienacht' and white 'Schneewittchen', there are numerous new varieties which have been mostly bred by the Dutch garden designer and plant breeder Piet Oudolf, in Holland. Many are named after native American tribes and signs of the zodiac, and are increasingly available from garden centres.

Purple monardas

There's a decent choice in a range of hues providing height at the back of the border.

M . 'Aquarius' has soft, pale violet-purple flowers.

M. 'Cambridge Scarlet'

M . 'Cambridge Scarlet'is a good bright red if you need a stronger, bolder colour to offset a group of purples. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its Award of Garden Merit (AGM).

M . 'Scorpion' has striking, bright violet blooms that last well and are set off against the dark bracts.

Pink-flowered cultivars

For a softer pastel scheme in a range of pinks try one of the following:

M. 'Beauty of Cobham'

M . 'Beauty of Cobham' : a nice mix of pale pink flowers and purple-green foliage. The Royal Horticultural Society has given this its AGM.

M. 'Croftway Pink'

M . 'Croftway Pink' : making a decent clump of flesh-pink flowers. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its AGM.

M. didyma : it flowers (sometimes in bright red) from mid- to late summer, and almost continuously if regularly deadheaded. The foliage is aromatic and leaves are sometimes picked for pot-pourri. Plants can spread fairly quickly on soil that stays moist, and may need dividing about every three years.

Growing tips

Site and soil preferences

Monardas like sun or very light shade and thrive on most soils, except very dry or clay. Keep them well watered over summer.

Planting position

It's best to plant monardas behind smaller plants that will hide the lower part of their stems.

Planting associations

Monardas look good when grouped together and beside midsummer-flowering perennials such as bright pink Lythrum salicaria , red-pink Persicaria amplexicaulis or mauve-blue Aster x frikartii 'Mönch' . The occasional injection of silvery foliage, such as artemisia, also works well.

Spread

Monardas spread relatively easily, gradually moving from the original planting site. After a number of years they may need digging up and replanting.

Propagation

Monardas can easily be divided in the spring as they start growing. This rejuvinates tired old clumps and provides plenty of new, vigorous plants. Alternatively, take cuttings when growth is fresh and vigorous.

Problem solver

Mildew on the leaves can be a problem, especially when the plants are stressed by dry weather. Treat with fungicides and remove diseased foliage to contain the spread. Monardas can be attacked by vine weevils, but this is only likely to be a problem on light soils.