Monarda didyma
Family: Lamiaceae
Herbaceous perennial. Native to the Eastern United States.
The red-flowered bergamot, surely one of the most striking of native American
wild plants, has a long history of use in medicine. The softly fuzzy
leaves are imbued with a sweet odor like a cross between mint and basil,
and they relinquish this essence to the garden air. The tea or tincture
of the plant is delightfully tasty, a general carminative and digestive,
also useful for treating the common cold. The poultice of the leaves,
mashed and applied cold to the forehead and temples, is a Cherokee remedy
for headache. This is a rare collection of a highly aromatic and
decorative wildflower. Cultivation: Easy. Sow
seed in warm soil in the spring or summer, in the greenhouse or directly
in the garden. Barely cover, tamp down and keep moist until germination.
In mild climates (e.g. Pacific Coast, the Southeastern United States and
Southern states), it may also be started in the late summer and transplanted
to the garden a few weeks before frost, allowed to overwinter and produce
voluminous flowers the following summer. Transplant or thin to 2
feet apart. Prefers partial shade to full sun and moist soils.
Makes a good container plant. Flowers 3 to 4 feet tall, scarlet.
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