Bergamot-red, with the scientific name of Monarda Didyma: This is a widely cultivated garden plant due to its stunning scarlet flower. This one is closely related to the Wild Bergamot. The reason for its common name is due to the scent that parallels the Bergamot Orange. The description of the Bergamot - red would be that it is an attractive scarlet flower, an aromatic herb, grows great in gardens and wildly attracts bees and butterflies.
This herb is named after the Spanish Botanist Nicholas Monardes. The plant is considered hardy and likes sun, does better in alkaline soil, but can survive in any soil. The flower color is red, of course, with the flowering period being July thru September. This strikingly beautiful perennial is hardy in the UK but can suffer in winter wet soils, so it is better suited to well drained positions. It can tolerate a bit of shade, but on the whole, prefers the sun most of the day. It is quite prone to powdery mildews, and a site that isn’t crowded with plants helps this by allowing some air circulation around the leaves. As a herbaceous perennial, it dies down completely in autumn and then resurfaces in the spring! It also does well in pots.
The beautiful scarlet flowers look amazing added to summer drinks and fresh fruit salads. The slightly mint tasting leaves can be used in salads and to adorn fruit. Both flowers and leaves can be infused in hot water or honey to help with coughs and colds, and BOTH can be added to a bath or herbal steam for inhalation therapy for congestion. All parts can be dried for future use by hanging out of direct sunlight and then storing in an airtight container.
Bergamot - wild and its proper name is Monarda Fisulosa. The nickname would be “Oswego Tea.”
This plant is native to North America where it was used medicinally by indigenous people. It is described as a striking mauve or purple flower, an aromatic herb, used medicinally and it grows well in a garden.
This, too, was named after the Spanish physician, Nicholas Monardes, and was originally known as Oswego Tea. It was brought into Europe as collected seed. It attracts bees and butterflies all summer. Both plants in this article grow from 60 to 100 cm; this is considered a hardy plant; needs mostly sun and soil type that it does best in would be alkaline. The flower color is anywhere from pink to purple with the flowering period being July to September.
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