Monarda 'Elegant Purple'

Bergamot are unusual-looking but hardworking perennials that deserve a place in any herbaceous border or wildlife garden. Stiff, upright stems bear distinctive whorls of tubular flowers that are a magnet for bees and butterflies, and bloom almost continuously from July to September with regular deadheading. The unique flowers make an excellent addition to bouquets and the citrus-scented leaves can be eaten in salads or dried and used to make pot pourri. Unfussy about soil type and thriving anywhere from full sun to dappled shade, this reliable and free-flowering perennial will quickly form a dense clump that associates beautifully with ornamental grasses and purple-leafed plants.From the latest Monarda breeding, the 'Elegant' series are compact varieties that have better mildew resistance than older monarda cultivars. Monarda 'Elegant Purple' bears whorls of vivid hot pink flowers with a prominent dark burgundy central dome.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. For more details about edible flowers click here.