Monarda clinopodia - White Basil-Balm

Family:	Labiatae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	1.25
Synonyms:
Range:	Eastern N. America - New York to Illinois, Georgia and Kentucky.

Monarda clinopodia (White Basil-Balm) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 1.25m . It has a hardness rating of 5.
The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Bees

Soil Information

White Basil-Balm will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
White Basil-Balm prefers moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

White Basil-Balm can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Woods and thickets[235].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Grows on a sunny edge
• Works within dappled Shade

Cultivation Details

Easily grown in ordinary garden soil so long as it is not too dry[1]. Requires a moist soil and a sunny position[1, 200]. Likes some shade. A good bee plant. Plants are subject to mildew in dry summers[200].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 1/5
The fresh or dried leaves and flower heads are brewed into a tea. Said to be excellent when mixed with other teas[183].

• Tea - the various herb teas that can be used in place of tea, plus the genuine article.

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 0/5
None known

Propagation

Seed - sow mid to late spring in a cold frame. Germination usually takes place within 10 - 40 days at 20°c. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer. The seed can also be sown in situ in late summer in areas where the winters are not too severe and will produce larger plants. Cuttings of soft basal shoots in spring. Harvest the shoots with plenty of underground stem when they are about 8 - 10cm above the ground. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer. Division in spring or autumn. Large divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

None known

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada
Britton. N. L. Brown. A.
Author: Britton. N. L. Brown. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Reprint of a 1913 Flora, but still a very useful book.
Date of Publication : 1970

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