Monarda hybrida Gardenview Scarlet - Beebalm

The Cep 'Gardenview Scarlet', also known as bergamot, is a vine-plant with red flowers that are exceptionally resistant to powdery mildew. It offers bright red flowers all summer long, which are easily noticeable from a distance. Its shiny, finely cut petals are like ruffled bracts, above small green-purple bracts. This large perennial with a scent of bergamot also stands out for its strong, fast growth; a young plant becomes fully grown in a year. It adorns itself with vibrant green, dentate foliage that is loved by butterflies and pollinating insects. It is an easy plant to grow in cool and fertile soil, in partial shade or in morning sun. It is also an excellent cut flower.

The Cep 'Gardenview Scarlet' belongs to the family of Lamiaceae, which includes numerous medicinal and aromatic plants. It is part of the many hybrids obtained through cross-breeding, which often occurs spontaneously in gardens, between two wild species, Monarda didyma, the Purple Monarda, and Monarda fistulosa, both native to North America. It is a herbaceous perennial, showing an 80 cm (32in) tall upright habit from spring, with a spread of 50 cm (20in). Flowering takes place from July to September, lasting 8 weeks in the heart of summer. The ruffled shape of the inflorescences gives it its uniqueness. They are composed of small flowers measuring 4 to 5 cm (2in) long, surrounded by bracts resembling small leaves, and have two lips, an upright upper lip and a lower lip divided into three lobes and more spread out. They are perched on upright stems. The flowering is highly attractive to bees and nectar-feeding insects. The bright green foliage is very aromatic and particularly healthy. When crushed, it gives off a characteristic citrus scent. The leaves are opposite, veined and dentate, measuring 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6in) long and often attracting insects. This plant covers the ground in two or three years, spreading with the help of its rootstock, without becoming invasive. Very hardy, it can also be very long-lived if the growing conditions are good.

In borders and flower beds, the Monarde 'Gardenview Scarlet' will blend well with summer-flowering perennials with vibrant colours like Helianthus or, on the contrary, pastel colours like Phlox. Plant it in groups to create a beautiful mass of flowers, with six plants, and associate it with orange and yellow daylilies. In late summer, it will accompany Asters lateriflorus, Campanulas lactiflora, Echinaceas, and other perennial plants. Its flowers are also lovely and long-lasting in bouquets.

It should be noted that monarda contains essential oils similar to those of thyme, whose virtues were already known to Native Americans. Monarda tea can be made using its leaves or flowers, whether fresh or dried. The young shoots can also be used in salads or in the stuffing of a roast.