Page 50 - MNLGA Free State Winter 2023_WEB

GROWING WITH EDUCATION (Continued) including ‘Balmy Rose’, a compact selection that grows 12
inches tall and 10 inches wide with bright pink flowers that do
shorter, sturdier stems. ‘Floristan White’ grows 3-4 feet tall
not produce seeds, and ‘Fireball’ which grows 15-20 inches
and 1-2 feet wide with bright white flowers densely packed on
tall, and the flowers are deep red-purple. The ‘Pardon my
the 2-inch flower stalk, and the seeds are enjoyed by many
Monarda’ series grows 10-12 inches tall and 8-12 wide, and
native songbirds.
beautiful colorful flowers that are also their names (Pardon
Monarda didyma, or Bee balm, thrives in full sun to partial my Cercis, Lavender, Lavender II, Pink, Purple, Rose). Best of
shade and organically rich, moist soils that never dry out. all, the foliage is powdery mildew resistant! Other cultivars
As a member of the mint family, the stems are square, the can include ‘Pink Frosting’, a compact cultivar with 2-3
foliage is fragrant, and it spreads by underground rhizomes. inches wide clusters of pink flowers and ‘Pink Lace’ which is
Flowers are tubular with lips on top and bottom as a perch also compact with bright pink flowers. Raspberry Wine’ has
for pollinators. The small flowers are jammed together on clusters of beautiful raspberry red flowers with very good
a densely packed terminal flower head with all of the tiny resistance to powdery mildew.
flowers facing outwards like fish jumping out of a pond. Bee
Lobelia cardinalis, or Cardinal Flower, makes a bright
Balm flowers are the largest of the Monarda, growing 4-5
statement with its scarlet red flowers from July to September.
inches across and can look like a mophead or the singer in a
Cardinal flowers need to grow in rich moist to wet soils in
rock band. Pollinators like hummingbirds and butterflies with
full sun to partial shade, and an application of mulch will
long tongues hover then dive into the flowers, which provides
help to maintain soil moisture. The plants are clump forming
nectar for the 3 weeks the plants bloom, from July to August.
upright perennials with dark green fine-toothed lance
The seeds of the Monarda are also enjoyed in the autumn
shaped leaves that attach alternately on the 2-4-foot-tall
and winter by native songbirds. The square stems have deep
leaf stalks that rise above a rosette. In July to September the
shiny green leaves that have serrated or notched margins
white, rose or scarlet flowers bloom on terminal spikes above
that attach to the stems on opposite sides, changing sides
the foliage. Flowers are long tube shaped with 2 lobes on
the next leaves upwards. The name bee balm is due to the
top of the opening and 3 lobes on the bottom, providing a
use of the leaves to soothe the sting of the bees that often
handy perch for pollinators. These bright flowers attract the
pollinate the plants. The leaves have been used to make
ruby-throated hummingbirds and the spicebush swallowtail
tea, and the flowers are edible. This all sounds so wonderful
butterflies, which are the main pollinators. Some of the nice
until you realize that the leaves are extremely susceptible to
cultivars include ‘Queen Victoria’, which has a longer life
powdery mildew, which is exasperated on plants that grow
and is more adaptable to landscape situations, ‘Fried Green
in dry soils. There are a number of cultivars worth looking at
Liatris Spicata Close Flower Monarda Didyma Bee Blam

50 WINTER 2023 • Free State News