Attractive monarda is popular with gardeners. And this is not surprising, because the culture is beautiful, and also unpretentious in care. In addition, this plant is used in cooking, because a pleasant aroma is the quality for which monarda is appreciated. Description and photos, breeding methods and growing rules - this and much more you will find in our material.
Description
The decorative flowering plant of monarda is a striking representative of the family of Lamiaceae or Labiaceae. The culture was imported from North America and has been cultivated in Europe for several years.
This rhizome perennial reaches 60–90 cm in height. He has strong tetrahedral shoots covered with hard hairs. The leaves of the culture are bright green, they are oval or dentate-lanceolate. They are located on short petioles opposite each other. The length of the sheet is from 6 to 15 cm, the width is 3–8 cm.
From June to September, large inflorescences-baskets appear on the stems. Their diameter reaches 6–7 cm. Petals are painted in lilac, lilac, pink and red tones. But there are snow-white and blue.
Monarda is successfully used in landscape design. It is suitable for decorating mixborders, rabatoks and mixed flower beds of a natural type. But also the plant is grown in group solo plantings.
The flower coexists with many cultures. But his best neighbors will be asters, chamomiles, echinacea, phlox and delphinium.
Monarda is valued as a good honey plant. In addition, it is used as a medicinal plant. And from the essential oil of the flower, cosmetics are created. In addition, the culture has a strong, pleasant aroma, thanks to which it is used in cooking.
Flower species
In nature, there are about 20 species of plants. But in our latitudes, only such varieties became widespread:
- Monard double. This perennial plant reaches 80 cm in height. She has a long horizontal rhizome and erect, tetrahedral stems covered with thin hairs. Opposite leaves are located on short reddish stipules. Peduncles are small, painted in purple and violet tones.
- Monarda duduk. The stems of the plant reach up to 110 cm in length. The culture has fibrous roots and capitate inflorescences 5 cm in diameter. Petals exude a citrus aroma with spicy notes. The color of the buds is white or rich burgundy. This variety is an excellent honey plant. Used as a spice and medicinal plant.
- Monarda lemon. The only annual species. The height of the shoots reaches 15–80 cm. They are densely covered with emerald leaves and small capitate inflorescences. Petals are painted in rich purple tones.
Popular varieties
On the basis of the arched and double varieties, breeders have bred a lot of hybrids that are distinguished by decorativeness, frost resistance and unpretentiousness. The following monarda varieties are in demand among Russian gardeners:
- Scarlett The culture reaches 90 cm in height. Inflorescences are medium, up to 7 cm in diameter. Petals are painted in pinkish, purple and bright red tones.
- Mahogany (Machogene). Medium-sized shrub with dark red buds. The peculiarity of the variety is twisted petals of an unusual shape.
- Lavender Elsie (Elsieys Lavender). Shrub reaches a meter in height. It is densely covered with large inflorescences painted in lavender tones.
- Ball of Fire (Fireball). The plant reaches 40 cm in height. Valued for large, spherical inflorescences painted in wine color.
- White snow (Snow White). The growth of the culture reaches 1.5 meters in height. The buds are large, spherical, painted snow-white.
- Lambada Tall shrub with large, dark pink inflorescences. Petals exude a pleasant lemon scent.
Each of these varieties will be an adornment of the flower grower's collection. After all, plants are attractive and fit into any landscape. In addition, an inexperienced gardener will also cope with planting monards and leaving in the open ground.
Seat selection
Perennial monarda is a photophilous flower. Therefore, for flower beds, choose illuminated places or a small partial shade. At the same time, the site should be protected from the wind, because strong gusts will break the thin stems of the culture.
As for the soil, the plant prefers light fertile soils with a neutral or slightly alkaline reaction. In acidic or heavy soil, the plant will quickly wither away.
Flowers do not tolerate stagnation of moisture at the roots, therefore, in no case do not plant them in wetlands or in a lowland.
Seed cultivation
Lemon Monarda (annual), however, like perennial varieties, in the southern regions is sown immediately in open ground. Moreover, sowing operations begin in mid-February. Then the grains in two months undergo a natural stratification and give strong shoots in April.
If the climatic conditions of your region allow you to sow a flower in this way, then prepare a plot in the fall. After all, it will be difficult to work with frozen ground. To do this, dig the soil and add some sand to it. Sowing monarda in February:
- Remove snow and cover the soil with a film so that it warms up a little.
- Mix the seeds of the culture with river sand in a ratio of 1: 4.
- Sow the flowers and cover them with a 2-cm layer of sand.
Thin the rows in the spring and leave the most viable sprouts. Keep in mind that the monarda will bloom only next year.
Seedling method
This method of propagation is more effective than sowing in open ground. Indeed, in indoor conditions much more sprouts emerge. In addition, they are easier to take root in the open ground.
Start sowing in late January-early February. For growing monarda seedlings use universal soil. Or prepare the soil yourself, for this, mix in equal proportions the following components:
Pour the substrate into the boxes and pour water. Close the seeds to a depth of 2–2.5 cm, cover with plastic or glass and put in a warm room. Do not forget to periodically ventilate the greenhouse and moisten the soil from the spray gun.
Shoots will sprout in three weeks. And when 2-3 leaves appear on them, dive seedlings into containers according to the 4 * 4 pattern.
Outdoor planting and care
Plant monarda on the flower garden two months after emergence. But prepare the plot for seedlings in early spring. To do this, dig the soil, remove weeds and add to each square meter:
- 3 kg of peat, manure or compost;
- 30 g of potassium salt;
- 50 g of superphosphate;
- 40 g of lime.
Immediately before planting seedlings, fertilize the soil with nitrogen preparations at the rate of 20-30 g per square meter.
Plant seedlings at a distance of 60 cm from each other. After planting, moisten the soil liberally. After that, provide the plant with good care. Remember to regularly weed the beds. Otherwise, weeds will drown out the young plants.
Watering
Monarda is a moisture-loving flower. And he needs frequent, but moderate watering, especially in the dry season. But you can’t fill the plant, because if the moisture stagnates at the roots, then they will rot. In addition, with heavy watering, the risk of powdery mildew increases.
The day after wetting or rain, do not forget to loosen the bed. Otherwise, a crust forms on the soil, which blocks the access of oxygen to the roots. Remove any weeds while loosening.
It is useful to mulch the soil near the plant with leaf humus or peat. Thanks to this agrotechnical event, the monard flower will receive additional nutrition. In addition, you will help him maintain moisture at the roots and prevent the weeds from growing.
But remember that you can not mulch the soil near the culture with pine needles. They oxidize the soil, which is extremely undesirable for the plant.
Top dressing
From mid-May to the end of August, fertilize the plant every 2 weeks. For these purposes, granular complex preparations such as "Agricola" or "Kemira" are suitable. The monard flower responds well to organic dressing. Mullein solution, diluted in a ratio of 1 to 10, is especially useful to plants.
Pruning
Regularly remove faded and damaged shoots. Thanks to this, you will not only decorate the shrub, but also protect the monard from diseases and pests.
Transfer
In order for monarda flowers to maintain their varietal qualities, periodically transplant them to a new place. Indeed, over time, the soil becomes less nutritious. In addition, harmful substances and bacteria accumulate in it, which undermine the plant's immunity. As a result, it can become sick.
Therefore, be sure to transplant every 2-3 years. Start this event in early spring. During the transplant, you can carry out the propagation of the culture by dividing the bush. How to do this, you will learn a little later.
Winter preparations
Perennial monards are frost-resistant flowers, and they tolerate even snowless winters with temperatures up to -25 ° C without shelter. If your region has severe cold, then mulch the soil with a thick layer of peat or compost. And cover the plants with spruce branches or lutrasil.
Annual crops cannot be preserved. Therefore, in the autumn, remove the remains of the plant and prepare a plot for new flowers.
Propagation by cuttings
When grown from seeds, monarda flowers do not retain their qualities. Therefore, for species and valuable plants, it is better to apply propagation by cuttings. Proceed to this event before flowering begins. Choose green shoots with a length of 10 cm. How to grow cuttings:
- Remove the lower leaves of the shoots and shorten the upper ones by a third of the length.
- Fill crates or containers with coarse river sand and moisten well.
- Stick the cuttings in the sand, cover with covering material and place in a dark, warm place.
- Periodically moisten the planting so that the substrate does not dry out.
Usually, the roots of the shoots are formed after 2-3 weeks. And they can be planted in a permanent place in the middle of summer.
Bush division
This method of propagation is suitable for plants aged 3-4 years. It is advisable to carry out the procedure in April, when the soil has time to warm up. But you can move the event to the fall. Although in this case, the plants take root worse.
How to propagate the plant:
- Gently dig the bush and remove it from the hole.
- Rinse the roots of the flower with a gentle stream of water to remove any remaining soil.
- Use a sharp knife to cut the plants into pieces. Make sure that each of them has several strong roots.
- Treat the places of cuts with powdered coal and plant seedlings in pre-prepared pits.
Monarda flowers easily tolerate this procedure. And after 2-3 years you will have to repeat the event. After all, the bushes of the plant during this period will grow up to a meter wide.
Pests and diseases
The monarda has strong immunity, it is rarely affected by diseases. Although with insufficient moisture, mildew develops. To get rid of the disease, do not forget to water the plant and mulch the soil near it.
The monarda aroma is a natural defense of the plant from pests. In addition, the parasites are scared away by the essential oils contained in the stems and roots of the culture. But in rare cases, weevils start on flowers. To get rid of parasites, treat the flowers with an insecticide, such as Actara.
If you do not know what to plant on the site, then pay attention to the monard. This unpretentious flower will fit into any landscape. Moreover, he does not require much attention from you.