Bergamot Red

Description

Monarda ‘Red’ – bergamot

Botanical name: Monarda (red)
Common names: Bergamot, bee balm
Family: Lamiaceae (mint family)
Plant type: Herbaceous perennial herb
Habit: Upright, clump-forming
Pot size: 9cm pot
Eventual size: Approx. 60–90cm tall × 45cm spread
Foliage: Aromatic, slightly hairy green leaves with a fragrant, minty-citrus scent
Flowers: Shaggy, whorled heads of vivid scarlet-red tubular flowers in summer (July–September)
Scent: Aromatic foliage
Aspect / light: Full sun to partial shade
Soil: Moist, fertile, humus-rich; any pH
Hardiness: RHS H7 (very hardy, below −20°C); USDA zones 4–9
Exposure: Sheltered or open
Native range: Species (Monarda) native to North America
Toxicity / pet & child safety: Generally considered non-toxic to people and pets

Monarda ‘Red’ bergamot is a striking aromatic perennial with shaggy heads of vivid scarlet flowers over fragrant foliage. A magnificent, long-flowering magnet for bees, butterflies and other pollinators.

GardenAdvice notes

An aromatic, clump-forming perennial from North America, bergamot (Monarda) is grown for its distinctive shaggy, whorled flowerheads and its fragrant foliage, and above all for being one of the very best plants for bees, butterflies and other pollinators. It thrives in moist, fertile soil in sun or light shade, and brings bold summer colour and a buzz of life to a border.

Growing & planting

Plant in spring or autumn in moist, fertile, humus-rich soil in full sun to partial shade — it dislikes drying out, which is a common cause of the mildew it can be prone to. Give it room and good air circulation. Space about 45cm apart.

Care & maintenance

Low-maintenance if kept moist. Water in dry spells, as drought stress encourages powdery mildew. Deadhead to prolong flowering, and cut back the old growth in autumn or late winter. Lift and divide clumps every few years in spring to keep them vigorous and healthy, discarding any weak, mildewed centres.

Propagation

• Division: Lift and divide clumps in spring — the easiest method, and good for keeping plants healthy.
• Cuttings: Take basal cuttings in spring.
• Seed: Species can be raised from seed.

Pests & diseases

Its one real weakness is powdery mildew, especially in dry soil or poor air circulation — keeping it moist, giving it space, and dividing regularly all help. Otherwise generally trouble-free.

Uses in the garden

Superb in mixed, cottage and prairie-style borders, wildlife and pollinator gardens, and moist sunny spots, where its bold, shaggy flowerheads and aromatic foliage bring colour and life; the flowers are good for cutting.

Wildlife value

Bergamot is one of the very best plants of all for pollinators: its nectar-rich flowers are hugely attractive to bees, butterflies and hoverflies, and it is a magnet for beneficial insects all summer.

Toxicity & safety

This herb is generally regarded as non-toxic to people and pets.

GardenAdvice tip

Red bergamot is a real showstopper, its vivid scarlet flowerheads blazing in a summer border and drawing in bees and butterflies in numbers. Keep it happy — and stave off the powdery mildew it can suffer — by giving it moist, fertile soil, good air circulation and a spot that never bakes dry, and divide it every few years to keep it strong.

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