Monarda didyma - Bergamot
| Family: | Labiatae |
| Habit: | Perennial |
| Height: | 0.9 |
| Width: | 0.45 |
| Synonyms: | |
| Range: | Eastern N. America - New York to Michigan, south to Georgia and Tennessee. |
Bergamot will flower in December to March. the seeds ripen from February to April
The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Bees
Soil Information
Bergamot 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
Bergamot prefers moist soils
Ideal Planting Locations
Bergamot can grow in semi or areas with no shade.Moist soils[235] in rich woods, thickets and bottom lands[43].
Planting places suited to this plant described below.
- Grows within a woodland garden
- Grows on a sunny edge
- Works within dappled Shade
- Can be planted in Cultivated Beds
Cultivation Details
Easily grown in ordinary garden soil so long as it is not too dry[1, 200]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Requires a moist soil and a sunny position[4, 200]. Prefers some shade[4] but succeeds in a sunny position so long as the soil does not dry out. Plants are hardy to at least -25°c[187]. The flowers are rich in nectar and are very attractive to bees[4, 55, 244]. A good companion plant, it grows well with tomatoes[14, 20]. Bergamot is a very ornamental and aromatic plant, it is often grown in the herb garden, there are some named varieties[183, 233]. The leaves, stems and roots carry a delicious aromatic orange-like perfume when crushed[245]. Plants are subject to mildew in dry summers[200].Edible Uses*
* See disclaimerEdible Rating: 3/5
Leaves and young shoot tips - raw or cooked. They are used as a flavouring in salads, fruit salads, drinks etc[46, 61, 105, 183]. Flowers - raw. They are added as an attractive garnish to salads[183, 238, 244]. An excellent aromatic tea is made from the fresh or dried leaves and flower heads[21, 46, 105, 183]. The leaves give an Earl Grey flavour to China tea[238].
- Condiment - the various plants that are used as flavourings, either as herbs, spices or condiments.
- Flowers -
- Leaves -
- Tea - the various herb teas that can be used in place of tea, plus the genuine article.
Medicinal Uses*
* See disclaimerMedicinal Rating: 2/5
Bergamot is often used as a domestic medicine, being particularly useful in the treatment of digestive disorders. The leaves and flowering stems are anthelmintic, carminative, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge, rubefacient and stimulant[4, 222]. An infusion is used in the treatment of flatulent colic and sickness, it is also used as a diuretic to treat urinary disorders[4, 238]. The leaves can be harvested before the plant flowers, or they can be harvested with the flowering stems. They can be used fresh or dried[238]. An essential oil from the herb is mainly used externally as a rubefacient in the treatment of rheumatism etc[4].
- Anthelmintic - Expels parasites from the gut.
- Carminative - Reduces flatulence and expels gas from the intestines.
- Diuretic - Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.
- Expectorant - Clears phlegm from the chest by inducing coughing.
- Febrifuge - Reduces fevers.
- Rubefacient - A counter-irritant and external stimulant, it produces inflammation and redness of the skin.
- Stimulant - Excites or quickens activity of the physiological processes. Faster acting than a tonic but differing from a narcotic in that it does not give a false sense of well-being.
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. Very easy, 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.Scented parts of the plants
Plant : CrushedKnown Hazards
None knownOther Uses
Yields an essential oil, used in perfumery, as a hair tonic etc[46, 61]. The dried leaves and flowers are used to scent and add colour to pot-pourri[238].- Essential - Essential oils that are used in perfumery, medicines, paint solvents, insect repellents etc.
- Pot-pourri - Aromatic plants used to impart a pleasant smell to an area. Can this be grouped with incense or essential oil?
Cultivars
'' - No entries have been made for this species as yet.References
Gray's Manual of Botany.Fernald. M. L.
Author: Fernald. M. L.
Rating:
Publisher : A bit dated but good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America.
Date of Publication : 1950
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
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