Monarda 'Elegant Purple'

Monarda 'Elegant Purple' is a vigorous and unique-looking hardy perennial that will add a splash of colour to wildlife gardens and herbaceous borders. Rigid, vertical stems boast interesting whorls of hot pink tubular blooms with a darker centre dome. Adored by butterflies and bees and will flower almost continuously from midsummer to autumn, if deadheaded regularly. These beautiful blooms make a superb cut flower in a vase display and the fragrant, citrusy foliage can be added to salads or dried to make potpourri. This reliable and free-flowering variety will be happy in full sun or dappled shade and will thrive in a variety of soil types. The 'Elegant' series is a more compact plant with improved resistance to mildew than older monarda cultivars. Culinary note: Use the dried leaves to make Bergamot tea or use the sweet, spicy flavoured petals to enhance salads, jellies, rice or pasta dishes.