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Monarda, or bergamot

Monarda, or bergamot, is a traditional favorite in aromatic gardens and perennial flower gardens. This bright, beautiful long-flowering honey plant with unusual, two- or three-story flowers attracts many bees and butterflies to the garden, while repelling harmful insects. Bergamot exudes an amazing lemon aroma, and just one leaf will give a cup of tea an exquisite flavor. To all its other virtues, Monarda is an excellent dried flower.

Monarda () - a plant from the mint family Lamiaceae ), close relativeoregano(Organum). The latter, however, is much inferior to the monard in beauty. Monarda grows wild in wet meadows, hills, and forest glades in much of North America. The plant was later successfully naturalized in parts of Europe and Asia. The name is given to the plant in honor of Nicholas Monardes, the author of a book on the plants of the New World, published in 1569. For its recognizable aroma and for the fact that butterflies, bees and hummingbirds (where they are found) always swarm around a flowering plant, bergamot is called bee balm, horse mint, lemon mint And Oswego tea (named after an Indian tribe).

During flowering, the plant grows long stems, in the axils of the leaves and on the tops of which charming shaggy flower heads of bright colors appear: different shades of red, hot pink, crimson, lilac and white. Due to the spectacular appearance, long flowering (from June to September), high cold resistance (from climatic zones 3-5), as well as the rapid natural spread in width, the plant is loved by gardeners andgarden designers.

Monarda is an upright plant, from 20 cm to 120 cm high, with oval or oval-narrow leaves pointed at the ends, oppositely located on the stem. The leaves are smooth or rough, depending on the species, have small notches at the ends. The length of the leaves is 5-15 cm. The flowers are simple or double (mainly in garden hybrids), bisexual, tubular, bilaterally symmetrical, bilabiate with leaf bracts. The upper lip is narrow, while the lower lip is wider and hanging down. All types of monarda are exceptionally fragrant due to the high content of essential oil in the roots, stems, leaves and flowers of the plant.

The highest essential oil content is in M. double(M. didyma ). She, along with M. fistulate ( M. fistulosa ) has long been used by the Indians as a medicinal plant. The Indians noticed the antiseptic properties of bergamot: the leaves of the plant were used to treat wounds and skin infections, and the tincture was used to gargle the throat and mouth, improve teeth and gums, for headaches and fevers, and also as a general stimulant and carminative. The Indians also used bergamot as a spice for game and poultry.

If you brew a monarda leaf with tea, it will give the drink a pleasant tart citrus aroma and flavor. However, the monard should not be confused with Seville orange varieties bergamia ( Citrus aurantium ssp. Bergamia) , which is commonly called bergamot , and is traditionally used to flavor the famous tea Earl Grey. Bergamo orange essential oil is called bergamot oil (Bergamot oil) , should not be confused with ethereal Monarda oil ( ) .

Nowadays, Monarda is widely used industrially in mouthwashes, thanks to the natural antiseptic thymol contained in the plant. Monarda essential oil is popular in aromatherapy. Dried leaves and flowers of the plant are added to aromatic potpourri, and flowers - in winter compositions from dried flowers. Fresh leaves are used as a spice in salads, fish and meat dishes.

IN The genus has about 13-16 species (according to various sources), among which there are annual and perennial herbaceous plants. The most common in horticultural culture are the following:

M. pipe (M. fistulosa), or wild bergamot - tall plant (up to 1.2 m in height) with smoky lilac-pink flowers

M. double (M. didyma), or bee bergamot, red bergamot - a plant reaching 90 cm in height, with bright red flowers

M. lemon-smelling ( M. citriodora); M. comb (M. pectinata) - both plants with pale lilac flowers and not as profusely blooming as the previous monards. Both plants are commonly referred to as lemon mint

M. disordered ( M. bradburyana), or oriental bee balm - a charming plant with white-lilac flowers

M. speckled (M. punctata)- an unusually frost-resistant (from zone 3) unusual plant with yellow flowers, which are decorated with lilac speckles.On the basis of these and other species plants, more than 50 highly decorative varieties and hybrids have been bred, which mainly differ in color. Among them:O Charm - cold hot pink,Croftway Pink, Beauty of Cobham - pale pinkgardenview Scarlet, Cambridge Scarlet, Squaw - bright red, Mahogany - brown-red,Blue Stocking, Scorpion - purple and Schneewittchen- white.

The main condition for growing Monarda is moist permeable soil. Plants can be planted in full sun (in conditions of northern and central Europe, but not further south) or in partial shade, In the first case soil moistureespecially important for the successful development of the plant. At the same time, bergamot will put up with any soil composition, including heavy clay, although it prefers rich humusand humus. It is believed that in full sun the monarda gives good greenery and reproduces well, spreading in breadth, and blooms better in partial shade. To prolong flowering, remove faded flower heads.

Plant care is mulching garden compostand humus in spring (on moist and warm soil) and in autumn, watering in dry periodsin the summer and pruning at the root, which is also best done in the spring, before the start of the new season. The straight stems of the monarda with dried flower heads look great in winter and represent one of the few garden decorations in the off season.

In good conditions, the monarda grows strongly, so the plantations should be divided every 3-4 years in the spring, when the fresh greens of the season appear. To do this, simply dig around the perimeter of the territory that you want to keep for the monard with a shovel, cutting the rhizomes. Excess rhizomes can be used to propagate the plant, this is the easiest and surest way. Monarda is also propagated by cuttings taken from plants in early spring, root cuttings, air layering and seeds. The latter applies only to species plants. Seeds should be sown immediately after harvest in cool conditions.

Monarda is quite resistant to diseases and garden pests. In hot, dry weather, downy mildew can often be seen on the plant, which does no harm, but spoils the appearance of bergamot. Prevention of the disease consists in keeping the soil moist with watering and mulching, as well as sparsity of plantings, which ensures air circulation around the stems. Other diseases and pests that affect the monard: fungal rust, occasionally tobacco mosaic virus, weevil (usually on light soils). Monarda itself can repel many pests living in the soil, due to the content of essential oil in the roots of the plant.

In the garden, monarda is used in perennial flower beds and borders, in gardens of useful and aromatic plants, in natural and wild gardens, and in vegetable gardens to attract pollinating insects to vegetable crops. It is believed that the monarda goes especially well with its compatriot tomato, the taste and aroma of which it significantly improves.

To create a beautiful composition of monarda in a flower garden, plant plants in large groups, combining them with perennial asters, echinacea, different types yarrow, decorative wormwood and cereals, loosestrife, stock-rose, autumn anemones, daisies, mountaineer and many other spectacular perennials.

Monard.

	This plant causes a lot of controversy among amateur gardeners. Some reject it - not flowers, but some kind of tatters; others find a special charm in nondescript inflorescences. But the Monarda should be valued for its medicinal and nutritional properties. So, monarda (Monarda) is a herbaceous plant from the labiate family (Lamiaceae). Its homeland is North America and Mexico, from where the plant was brought to Spain after the discovery of a new continent by Columbus. But Europeans learned about the monard only 85 years later from the books of the doctor Nikolaev Monardes "Good News from the New World" and "Medical History of Western India" ( 1569; 1580).
In these books, the plant was called "Canadian organ" and "Verginsky soul". After 2 centuries, the plant was included by Carl Linnaeus in his classification of species ("Plant Species", 1753), and the genus was named after H. Monardes - "Monarda". Then they forgot about the monard and remembered only a century later. In Europe and Asia, it began to be cultivated as an essential oil plant. By the beginning of the XIX century. monarda was grown under the names: bergamot - for its resemblance to the aroma of a citrus plant - bergamot, Oswego tea - as it was used by the Oswego Indians, bee or odorous balm - the plant is a wonderful honey plant, American lemon balm, Indian feather, mountain balm, lemon mint. The genus Monarda has up to twenty species. Most of them are perennial plants, the aerial part of which dies in winter and resumes in spring. The stem of the monarda is straight, branched, up to 100-140 cm high; leaves toothed oblong-lanceolate; small flowers are collected in 2-3 capitate inflorescences 6-7 cm in diameter, located one above the other along the stem. Monarda blooms from July to the end of summer. Propagated by seeds, division of bushes (best in spring) and segments of roots. Seeds germinate on the 15-20th day. The plant loves the sun, but puts up with partial shade. The underground part of the monarda is quite winter-hardy. Four-five-year-old bushes have up to 100-150 flowering shoots, which create a decorative effect. However, the monard should not be kept in one place for more than six years, since the central part of the bush begins to fall out and the productivity of the plant decreases. The monarda is unpretentious to soils, does not tolerate only highly acidic and very damp. Responds well to organic fertilization. In decorative floriculture, three types of monarda are most common: double, tubular, or fistulate, and lemon. Monarda double (M. di-dyma) - the tallest and most widespread species. In culture, there are garden forms and varieties with a compact bush, bright colors of inflorescences - red, purple, pink, white, lilac. The most famous varieties of American breeding: Adam (Adam) has large scarlet-red inflorescences, a compact bush, grows well in partial shade, but better in the sun. Mahogany. Flowers collected in inflorescences are twisted at the ends, which gives the plant an original look. Petals are dark red. Both leaves and flowers are strongly scented. The variety is characterized by long flowering (until frost), effective in summer bouquets. Croftway Pink is one of the most attractive varieties with lilac-pink flowers. Blooms profusely in the shade. Many find it irresistible and suitable for cutting. Snow White (Snow White) - a variety with pure white flowers. It is effective both in single-varietal plantings and in combination with a variety of plants. The bush is tall, compact. Of the other varieties known: Cambridge Scarlit - with bright red, Prairie Glow, Sunset - purple, Snow Meidn - white, Rose Queen - with pink flowers. Monarda fistulate, or tubular (M. fistulosa), differs from double monarda in a somewhat lower height of the bush. Valued as an essential oil plant with a high content of thymol, it is used in medicine and perfumery. This type of monarda is widely used in floriculture, especially its dwarf variety - a plant 10-35 cm high, with dark green leaves and light lavender flowers. Monarda lemon (M. citriodora). This species is especially interesting for growing in household plots, since it can be used not only as an ornamental, but also as a spicy vegetable plant. Lemon monarda leaves, stems and flowers contain essential oil, which has the same components as basil, mint, lemon balm and other spice plants. Monarda is also known as a medicinal plant, due to the essential oil that has antimicrobial and antiseptic properties. There is information on the use of monarda fistula for the treatment of bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis, and radiation sickness. It also turned out that the essential oil of this species of Monarda contributes to the treatment of Salmonella infection. Monarda leaf juice is used to heal wounds, and for fractures, wounds, tea with the addition of dry or fresh herbs is recommended. For tea 2 tbsp. spoons of crushed leaves, flowers (inflorescences) and stems pour 200 ml of boiling water, leave for 20-30 minutes, filter, add sugar to taste and drink 1/4 cup 3 times a day. As a spicy vegetable crop, lemon monarda is included in the catalogs of many countries. In the United States, for example, it is widely used as an additive to tea, a seasoning for meat dishes and salads to stimulate appetite and improve digestion. Monarda can rightfully claim a place on the list of vegetable spice plants from our amateur gardeners. The folk plant of the Indians of America is beautiful, healing and tasty. Some culinary recipes using monarda 1. Spring salad. 50 g of fresh young shoots with monarda leaves, 50 g of green onions, egg, 20 g of sour cream, salt. Washed, slightly dried monarda shoots and onions chop, salt, put egg slices on top and pour sour cream. 2. Dressing for cabbage soup, borscht. 15-20 minutes before the end of cooking, put 20-30 g of fresh or 10-and. 15 g of dried leaves, stems or monarda inflorescences. 3. Monarda buttermilk cocktail. 4 cups buttermilk, C 1 cup water, 1 teaspoon dried monarda. . Dilute the buttermilk with boiled water, add dried monarda mashed in a mortar into powder. Shake, let stand 10-15 minutes in the cold. Use as a soft drink - a substitute for kvass. 4. Apple jam. 10 g of fresh flowers and leaves of Monarda, 3 liters of thin sugar syrup, 3 cups of apples, cut into slices. Pour monarda into boiling syrup, cook for 5-10 minutes, add apples and cook until tender. 5. Monarda in canning. Put the upper part of the monarda stems with leaves and inflorescences in jars when pickling cucumbers, tomatoes, cabbage, etc. Cherry, blackcurrant, dill and horseradish leaves in these pickles do not reduce the aroma of monarda. Vegetables keep better.

A perennial plant of the Lamiaceae family, Monarda, is used for medicinal purposes and in cooking, because of its decorative properties it is popular with gardeners. Thanks to the rich color palette of inflorescences - it contains white, lilac, scarlet, purple, pink, and wine shades of red, flower beds and with a monard are spectacular.

In the title photo - Double Monarda (Monarda Dydima), variety "Pardon my purple".

Basic information

Monarda is an essential flower, the stems of the bush are straight, with jagged green leaves, during flowering many small inflorescences appear on the bush, and the smell from the plant intensifies, attracting bees.

For your information. The plant is known as an essential oil plant, its green parts have a scent of bergamot (for which the monard is called bergamot) and are used to brew herbal tea.

The drink made from the leaves has a minty flavor and a citrus scent of bergamot, the herbal tea is known as Oswego tea. Like many of the ornamental plants, the monard came to Europe from North America. In the New World, the Indians prepared antipyretic drugs from medicinal herbs, applied them to wounds as an antiseptic, and took care of the oral cavity with aqueous solutions prepared from the leaves.

And now gardeners, on occasion, recall the healing properties of the plant, use its green parts, adding leaves to salads, meat dishes.

Historical reference. In Europe, they learned about the monard from the book of Nicholas Monardes, in which the botanist described new plants found in America. In the book, this flower is called "Canadian organ", "Verginsky soul". The name Monarda was given to the flower genus by Carl Linnaeus in honor of the author of the book N. Monardes, a doctor and botanist.

The essential oil flower spreads fragrance around itself during the entire time of growth, its citrus notes are liked by people, butterflies, bees. The smell repels harmful insects.

Useful fragrant plant grown in pots and open ground flower beds. The perennial reaches its greatest decorative effect by the 5th year of growth, when about 100 peduncles bloom simultaneously on a lush bush.

Species and varieties

To date, there are about 2 dozen species of monarda. Of these, the most common in horticulture received:

• Monarda lemon (Monarda citriodora). A fragrant plant, rich in essential oils, is used by gardeners as a culture for preparing spicy seasonings for salads and meat dishes. Fragrant leaves and flowers with a lemon-resinous smell and mint tint are added to tea, jams, kvass. The entire ground part of the bush is used in the production of wines, the essential oil obtained from the plant is added for aromatization in cosmetics. Perennial Monarda Citrus Bergamot is often grown as an annual flower - the tender leaves are good for tea, spices, dishes.

Due to the decorative properties of a flower with beautiful inflorescences, garden plots are decorated.

• Monarda double (Monarda didyma). Gardeners also get the two-in-one effect when growing this most popular type of flower. Made from ground parts, herbal tea has antipyretic and analgesic properties. A flower with bright inflorescences of dark and light shades of red, white and purple-lilac with a pointed lush cap, the plant is used as an ornamental.

• Monarda fistulosa (Monarda fistulosa) It has a pronounced citrus aroma and is valued as an essential oil plant with medicinal properties. The plant is used for bactericidal effects, stimulate appetite, improve digestion. Young greens of the plant are added to salads, soups, tea, sauces, seasonings for meat, the ground parts of the bush are used to flavor wine (vermouth), prepare spicy seasonings, and in cosmetology. Dwarf varieties of this species are popular.

In gardens, the flower is grown as an ornamental and honey plant, used to make bouquets. The fistulose monarda blooms for 2-3 years of growth with inflorescences of a delicate lilac color. The bush of an adult plant stretches up to 120 cm.

The flower is known as wild bergamot, horsemint.

Monarda varieties are common and in demand:

• Citrodera Harlequin. This is a compact annual plant with a delicate bergamot aroma and an original peduncle composed of densely spaced inflorescences.

• Mona Lisa. An annual plant with dark purple-lilac inflorescences has a strong lemon aroma. It is recommended to grow for the preparation of spicy seasonings and for flavoring drinks and canned foods.

• Diana (Monarda citriodora). This perennial plant is planted as a medicinal, ornamental crop and for the preparation of seasonings, herbal tea, flavoring drinks. Varietal monarda blooms with beautiful pink-purple flowers, 5-6 inflorescences on each branch of the bush. The formed bush stretches to a height of 45 cm, its shoots are strong, with lanceolate leaves.

• Monarda hybrid (Monarda lambada) represented by varieties bred in Germany, the Netherlands. They exude the strongest aroma and are less demanding on growing conditions.

For your information. Breeding work is aimed at improving the decorative properties of the flower and obtaining green mass with a high content of essential oils. It is used on an industrial scale, in addition to cooking and cosmetology, for the preparation of homeopathic formulations.

Means in homeopathic doses with Monarda help in the treatment of otitis, cystitis, pneumonia, psoriasis, bronchitis.

Due to its antibacterial properties, the plant is used to prevent the formation of black mold.

Hybrid monarda varieties are popular - with white flowers Schneewittchen, with red Cambridge Scarlet, Balance. A variety with purple-purple inflorescences of Blaustrumpi, with pink Cratly Pink, with lilac Elsieys Lavender, with burgundy Praerienachr is in demand.

Grade Schneewittchen

• Panorama Mix. The variety is obtained from a double moranda. Popular in that it retains its decorative effect for a long time, flower stalks from small inflorescences of different shades of red and purple delight during flowering. In place of faded inflorescences, nut-boxes with seeds are formed, which enliven the autumn, sometimes winter, landscape. Flowers are grown for cutting, used in landscaping.

• Terry "Fairy Tale". The winter-hardy variety is valued as an ornamental plant with inflorescences of a rare pale amethyst color and a delicate honey-mint aroma emanating from the whole bush. The perennial grows rapidly, bushes well, blooms in the second half of summer, blooms profusely.

The variety is also grown for its healing, flavoring, honey-bearing properties.

Growing from seed

Monardu is planted in open ground with seeds at the end of spring, when stable warm weather has already been established (the optimum temperature for seed germination is + 20 ° C) and frosts are not expected, to a depth of 2 cm. In order to sow the seed evenly, sand is mixed with the seeds.

The sprouted plants grow slowly, when leaves appear on the plant, the sowing is thinned out, leaving the plants at a distance of 10 cm. At the next thinning, the interval between developing bushes is increased by 2 times. When planted with seeds, the bush does not bloom in the first year of life.

Can at the end of March, in April, sow seeds for seedlings. Shoots after 2 weeks of development should dive. After a stable heat is established, the seedlings are planted, keeping the distance between plants 30 cm, and between rows up to 70 cm.

Landing

Monardas choose a sunny place for planting or with light partial shade, protected from the wind. The soil should be fertile and well retaining moisture.

The flower is moisture-loving, so it needs regular watering. To retain moisture in areas with dry, hot summers, it is recommended to mulch the soil.

Care during the growing season

A plant that is undemanding in care must be watered and fed with complex nitrogen-containing fertilizers to quickly gain green mass. It is also necessary to feed the monard during flowering. The bush diluted in water should be watered regularly after 2 weeks.

Autumn care and preparation for winter

In the autumn, the bush is fed with potash and phosphorus fertilizers of prolonged action. Dry granules are placed shallowly in the soil under the bush, they slowly dissolve with water. The nutrient composition accumulates in the roots by spring and stimulates the rapid development of the plant with abundant flowering next year.

Diseases, pests, problems

Flower winter-hardy, unpretentious to growing conditions, resistant to diseases. Thanks to the essential oils of the root system, it repels pests living in the soil, and the aromas of the ground part repel insects that feed on green mass.

Rarely the bush can be affected fungal rust, tobacco mosaic virus, weevil. When a flower is susceptible to downy mildew disease, it can be seen from the leaves. Their greenery with a cloudy coating indicates a disease. Often this happens during dry hot days from lack of moisture.

To maintain high decorative properties of a flower, it is necessary to maintain soil moisture that is comfortable for the plant and provide prevention from diseases and pests.

In the spring, before the intensive growth of the bush, and in the fall, before wintering, it is good to spray the plant with a solution of copper sulphate or foundationol.

Perennial phloxes;

bells;

large chamomile;

curly beans;

climbing nasturtium;

A perennial plant can be supplemented with annuals - cosmos, zinnia.

Composition with hostas, nasturtium, daylilies is appropriate in semi-shady places. Monarda - as a bright accent.

Bright mixborder with Monarda. One can argue about whether these two bright shades are appropriate here.

A very good option for a mixed border.

Monarda and rudbeckia.

Monarda goes well with astilba.

The highlight of this flower bed is the combination of vertical and horizontal spots, sharp lines of bulbous flowers and herbs, and soft surfaces created by stonecrop.

Where to buy seeds

Monarda seeds are not uncommon and are widely represented in online stores, sowing material can be ordered and bought with delivery by mail.

Review on video

About the decorative and taste properties of the plant - in the review on the video from the Dacha TV channel.

Monarda- an ornamental plant, a representative of the Yasnotkovy family. Scientists consider North America to be the birthplace of the flower. After the discovery of America by Columbus, the plant was brought to Spain. Europeans learned about the existence of Monarda from the book of Monardes. The genus was named by Carl Linnaeus in honor of the botanist Nicholas Monardes, he described plants unknown at that time that were discovered in America, the book was published in 1574. The author described the flower, calling it "Canadian organ", as well as "Verginsky soul". Unfortunately, the outlandish flower was soon forgotten, remembered only a century later. Monarda began to be grown as an essential oil plant. Its extract began to be added to antiseptics for the oral cavity.

Monarda is a straight stem with jagged green leaves and small flowers of a light purple hue (see photo).

Monarda grass has a pleasant bergamot smell, it is used as a tea surrogate.

From the leaves of this plant, the Indians prepared a special drink. The English name for this tea is Oswego tea. The drink resembled mint tea, they were treated for stomach pains, used as an antipyretic. The Indians also used monarda as a medicine. They used it to heal small wounds as an antiseptic. The tea was used to treat the throat and mouth. The plant contains the substance thymol, which is included in the most modern oral care products. The Indians used the plant's herb as a general tonic and also as a carminative.

Until the beginning of the 19th century, Monarda was grown as "bergamot", which is explained by the similarity of its aroma with this citrus plant.

Monarda varieties

There are about 15 varieties of representatives of the genus Monarda, among which there are both annual and perennial specimens. The most famous varieties are:

Based on these varieties, more than 50 hybrids were bred. They have a wide palette of shades and a wonderful aroma.

Growing: planting and care

This plant is often grown in flower beds.

Thanks to the rich color palette, the monarda will become the highlight of the entire flower bed, and its unique aroma will attract not only people, but also bees.

Monarda will make the flower garden textured and fragrant. It will look especially beautiful against the background of wormwood, yarrow and other plants. This decorative flower will emphasize the beauty of roses of various shades. Monarda can be grown not only in open ground, but also in pots. For example, you can place a flower pot on a sunny terrace. So the magical citrus aroma of Monarda will contribute to a pleasant pastime. The plant also attracts butterflies, but it repels harmful insects. The greatest decorativeness of the plant is observed during the flowering period.

Monarda prefers fertile soil. It is recommended to choose a soil for planting that retains moisture well. This is a moisture-loving plant, so regular watering is very important for it. Monarda reproduces with the help of seeds, as well as by dividing the bush. Care consists of abundant watering, thinning and top dressing. Perennial monarda perfectly tolerates cold snap, it belongs to winter-hardy plants.

Collection and storage

The monarda is harvested during flowering, the flowering tops are cut and dried in the shade, tying them into bunches. Dried stems, along with flowers, are used to make tea drinks, medicines, and flower arrangements.

Beneficial features

The beneficial properties of the monarda are due to its chemical composition. Monarda is rich in essential oils, vitamins B1, B2, C. The essential oil has bactericidal activity, it can be used to prevent acute respiratory diseases. The highest content of essential oil in Monarda double, the Indians used this type of plant for medicinal purposes. They rinsed their mouths with decoctions, healed wounds. In order to disinfect the wound, it is enough to stretch the leaf of the plant and apply it to the sore spot or treat the wound with monarda juice. The oil of this plant was used in case of damage to the body by salmonella. Monarda can be used to prepare therapeutic inhalation for ENT diseases.

Application in cooking

In cooking, monardu has found application in the preparation of surprisingly delicious tea drinks. So, just a few leaves of this plant will give the tea a pleasant lemon flavor.

In America, Monarda is often used as a seasoning for meat.

The plant has long been valued as a healthy spice, it was put in dishes in order to improve digestion. It is also customary to add monarda leaves when preserving vegetables: it gives them an original smell and taste.

Monarda benefits and treatment

The benefits of this plant have long been known to folk medicine. Monarda is considered one of the best remedies for mold control. Mold can cause allergic reactions, bronchial asthma. The harm of mold is due to the fact that some of its species produce toxic compounds that disrupt the normal functioning of the body. Immunity and susceptibility to mold in different people can be completely different, which means that the consequences can also be different.

Monarda is a proven remedy that completely inhibits the growth of black mold.

In folk medicine, the plant is also used to prepare a remedy for colds and headaches. For this, 1 tbsp. l. raw materials pour 200 ml of boiling water, insist. Take an infusion of half a glass 4 times a day. This infusion is effective for bloating, and also as an expectorant. Externally, the infusion is used to disinfect wounds and burns. The plant is recommended for use in vaginitis, cystitis. It is also effective for eczema, pneumonia, psoriasis, anemia, atherosclerosis.

Monarda oil extract has long been used for medicinal purposes. You can get it even at home, for this you need to place a dry plant in a bottle with vegetable oil in a ratio of 1:10, mix the resulting oil and heat it in a water bath to 60 degrees for 2 hours. Filtered oil can be used for a runny nose (a few drops of oil are instilled into the nasal passages), and it can also be used to treat wounds.

Monarda harm and contraindications

The plant can cause harm to the body with individual intolerance. Before using monarda as a medicine, it is recommended to consult with your doctor. It is contraindicated to use the plant for pregnant women, children under 3 years old.

Monarda has several types: double monarda, fistulate monarda, lemon monarda. This is a perennial plant from the Lamiaceae or Lamiaceae family, naturally growing in North America and Mexico.

Currently, due to its decorative qualities and useful properties, it is also spreading throughout Europe. Popularly, the names of the plant can sound like bergamot, lemon mint, American lemon balm. Already by these names it becomes clear that it has a spicy characteristic smell and is rich in essential oils. Indeed, lemon monarda has a strong smell, reminiscent of the smells of mint and lemon. It got its name from the name of the Spanish naturalist and botanist Nicolas Monardes, who first described the plant.

In central Russia, the most famous varieties of lemon monarda are varieties:

• Mona Lisa;
• Diana;
• Solntsevsky Semko.

These cultivars are grown as annuals, which sometimes also tolerate winter well.

The plant reaches a height of 100 cm, although the average height of the stem is somewhere around 70-90 cm. The branched tetrahedral stem grows straight. The leaves on it are oval, oblong and serrated. The flowers come in different colors (red, purple, white, pink) and form inflorescences, the diameter of which is 6-7 cm. They are located on the stem one above the other.

Features of growth, cultivation and care

Most monarda varieties are perennials. By winter, the aerial part of them withers, by spring the flower is reborn. Flowering, lasting almost two months, occurs in the summer, starting in July.

It is best to plant a lemon monard with seedlings. Planting options are possible by dividing the bush or growing from seeds. If you are preparing seedlings, it is better to sow the seeds in boxes in the middle of winter (January - early February). Seedlings will appear in 2-3 weeks. They will be ready for planting in 2 months (2 months and a week). In the case of lemon monarda, you can not be afraid, even if frost occurs. It is not difficult to choose a place for the Monarda. It grows well both in the sun and in semi-dark places. The depth of the soil should be approximately 1.5-2 cm, the soil should be previously loosened with the addition of manure, minerals, sand and lime. When transplanting, ammonium nitrate is also added.

If you divide the bush, then it is preferable to do this from bushes that are already 3-4 years old. Up to 30 young seedlings can be planted from one bush. This applies to all other varieties of monarda, with the exception of lemon. This variety is best planted with seedlings.

The first month - one and a half the bush grows slowly, after growth noticeably accelerates. The plantation is littered with weeds, so weeding is recommended at least 2-3 times during the summer.

Beneficial features

Monarda lemon gained popularity not only and not so much due to its decorative qualities. Although, I must say, the bushes of this plant look spectacular in the photo and in garden plots. Monarda is also good in bouquets, and it can remain fresh for many days.

But the main value of Monarda is in its essential oils, which are used both for medicinal needs and in perfumery. Lemon monarda can also replace tea leaves or become an excellent aromatic component for tea. It can also be seasoned with meat dishes. The plant is rich in honey nectar. Essential oils are found in flowers and leaves. To obtain them, the leaves must be collected during the flowering period of the plant. The biological activity of the bush lasts five years, after which the yield of seeds and leaves decreases.

As a medicine, lemon monarda is used to treat diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, is used as an antimicrobial agent, to fight helminths, salmonella, for better tissue healing after burns and eczema.

Monarda is a perennial plant with a stem height of 30 to 120 cm, with bright, slightly "disheveled", but lush and beautiful inflorescences. Monarda flowers are red, purple, pink, lilac, white inflorescences are also found. The red monarda looks spectacular and bright in garden design, as evidenced by numerous photos. It is very decorative and loved by many gardeners. However, in addition to the decorative function, the plant is very valuable for its nutritional and medicinal properties.

The homeland of the perennial is North America, as well as Mexico. With the light hand of Columbus, during the discovery of a new continent, the monard went to Spain, and from there to different countries of Europe. The general public was introduced to this plant by Dr. Monardes in one of his works. By the name of the scientist, this valuable perennial was named.

The perennial monarda blooms from July to September, and remains green from the beginning of March until the end of November, even in the case of slight frosts. For the similarity of its aroma with a citrus smell, Monarda is sometimes called bergamot. However, true bergamot is an evergreen, pear-shaped citrus tree named after the Italian city of Bergamo, where it was originally cultivated.

Among the species of monarda, which today there are about two dozen, the most common are the pipe (or tubular), lemon (or citrus), point, double, dwarf and hybrid monarda.

The most popular varieties include:

Landing and care

Growing a shrub and caring for it in open ground is quite simple. The main requirements of agricultural technology include:

• Moist soil with good water permeability.
• Lots of sun or at least partial shade. With an abundance of sunlight, the monarda grows well in breadth and gives intense greenery, and in partial shade it has a brighter and longer flowering.
• Monarda can be grown on almost any soil, but most of all it will be grateful for the addition of humus and humus.
• Autumn and spring are the right time to mulch with organic matter.
• In long periods without rain, the plant needs watering.

From seeds, the plant is most often grown in warm regions - in the south. Sowing is carried out in winter, in February or in autumn, immediately after collecting the seeds. The plant sprouts quite slowly, and flowers appear only the next year. Often it is propagated in seedlings, sowing seeds in boxes of vegetable soil in January or February. Thus, Monarda seedlings appear at the right time - by spring.

During the growth of seedlings, the temperature under the film is maintained at least twenty degrees. After three weeks, the seedlings need to dive in order to provide them with a large area of ​​\u200b\u200bnutrition. In the spring, they are transplanted into open soil, feeding with nitrogen fertilizer. All seedlings are placed at a distance of 60 cm from each other and watered abundantly.

To preserve varietal characteristics, it is better to reproduce the Monarda not by seeds, but by dividing bushes that are already three or four years old. The best time for this is April or early autumn. The bush must be dug up, cleared of the ground and divided into parts. Slices need to be processed with crushed charcoal, after which the delenki should be planted in the pits.

You can also propagate the plant from cuttings. They are cut before the monarda blooms from green shoots. For two or three weeks, the cuttings are planted in boxes for rooting, and at the end of July they are transplanted into the ground. As for pests and diseases, they are not afraid of a well-groomed, healthy monarda. The aroma and content of essential oils help the plant scare away uninvited guests. It is only necessary to maintain favorable conditions for it: water it in a timely manner, mulch the soil.

Medicinal properties and contraindications

The benefits of Monarda have been known since ancient times. Even the American Indians used it as a seasoning for food and medicine. As a spice, it is not only useful, but also improves digestion. This plant is an excellent honey plant. And its fragrant flowers and leaves are often added to tea, giving the drink a citrus-mint aroma and a pleasant tart aftertaste.

Monarda tea gets the best reviews. It is tasty and healthy, improves immunity, helps fight colds and infectious diseases. In addition to vitamins B and C, the plant also contains essential oils, the healing properties of which help to cope with burns, inflammation, spasms, bronchitis and asthma.

Monarda essential oil is a natural blood preservative that helps in tissue healing. It also helps to cure atherosclerosis and radiation sickness. The use of Monarda essential oil is recommended after chemotherapy procedures.

The highest oil content is distinguished by the monarda of such varieties as double and fistulate. Essential oils can be used in aromatherapy, as well as for making tea with Monarda, for rinsing the mouth. The antifungal and bactericidal properties of the plant are used to create special products that purify the air, prevent mold and eliminate unpleasant odors. Such a tool, for example, is produced by Faberlic in the form of a spray gel called Sengara. The same company created a drink concentrate based on monarda, which promotes digestion, has antiviral and antihelminthic effects.

Monarda has no special contraindications, but, like many herbal preparations, it should not be used by young children, pregnant women and nursing mothers, as well as people with individual intolerance.

Harvesting for the winter, recipes

Medicinal herb is sure to come in handy in winter, including as a seasoning. You can dry it like this: tie the branches with leaves in bunches and hang them in a dark place, and dry the flowers separately. The dry flower of the Monarda will not only add a pleasant aroma and flavor to the tea, but will also help heal the gums and teeth, and save you from headaches.

You can also prepare purely herbal tea from Monarda, homemade tincture. Two teaspoons of its crushed leaves and flowers should be poured with a glass of boiling water. Infuse Monarda tea for about half an hour, and then take a quarter cup three times a day. At home, you can also prepare an oil extract using dry grass and refined vegetable oil in a ratio of one to ten. The mixture must be heated for two hours in a water bath, and then cooled and filtered.