Bergamot

Bergamot

£6.99

Position: full sun or partial shade
Soil: fertile, moist, well-drained soil
Rate of growth: average
Flowering period: July to September
Hardiness: fully hardy
Whorls of vibrant, reddish-purple flowers surrounded by purple bracts from July to September, and aromatic, mid green leaves. This striking bergamot is perfect towards the back of a sunny, well-drained, moisture retentive border. Disease resistant and taller than other varieties, the tall purple stems must be supported with brushwood or canes before the flowers appear. Garden care: Most monardas can be capricious, and do not like soil that is either too damp or too dry. These plants are susceptible to powdery mildew, and while this rarely causes long-term damage, it can look unsightly towards the end of the summer. You can help reduce this by applying a 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted organic matter around each plant. Resist cutting bergamot back in autumn, since the stiff, vertical stems look good all winter.

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