The Indian nettle (Monarda didyma), also known as scarlet monard or golden balm, is a bushy, clump-forming perennial. Its leaves smell wonderfully of bergamot when crushed. From July onwards, two whorls of light scarlet to bright red flowers, standing one above the other, appear over bracts that are also reddish. The perennial, native to the eastern United States, grows to around 90 centimeters high and up to 45 centimeters wide. With our planting tips you can successfully cultivate this beautiful perennial in your garden.
How do you plant an Indian nettle correctly?
The Indian nettle (Monarda didyma) prefers a full sun to partially shaded location with nutrient-rich, humus-rich, moderately moist and permeable soil. Planting time is ideally in spring, and a planting distance of 40 centimeters is recommended.
Which location is ideal for the Indian nettle?
Indian nettles prefer a full sun to partial shade, but light location.
What should the soil be like?
The soil is ideally nutrient-rich, humus-rich, moderately moist and permeable. Peat-containing soil is very suitable (€19.00 on Amazon).
What is the Indian nettle particularly good for?
Indian nettles are robust summer bloomers for colorful perennial beds and semi-shady edges. The leaves can be dried and used to flavor teas. In the USA, the perennial has been cultivated in gardens as a scented and medicinal plant since the 18th century.
Which are ideal planting partners for the Indian nettle?
The Indian nettle harmonizes beautifully with grasses, coneflowers (Rudbeckia fulgida), coneflowers (Helenium), red coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) and other prairie perennials. But it also works against purple trees such as the red wig bush (Cotinus coggygria).
When is the best time to plant Indian nettle?
The ideal planting time is spring, after late frosts are no longer expected. In principle, however, container goods can be planted throughout the entire growing season.
At what planting distance should Indian nettles be planted?
You need around four to six plants per square meter to be planted. A distance of around 40 centimeters is ideal.
How can you propagate the Indian nettle?
Propagation occurs either by sowing in spring or by division either in spring or autumn. You can also take half-ripe cuttings in early summer.
When does the Indian nettle bloom?
The Indian nettle blooms between June and September, although this can be extended by regularly removing dead shoots.
Which varieties of Indian nettle are recommended?
In addition to the scarlet Indian nettle (Monarda didyma), the late Indian nettle (also “Wild Bergamot”, Monarda fistulosa) and hybrids with very different colors of flowers are also available commercially. The flower spectrum ranges from pure white (“Snow White”) to pink and red tones (“Beauty of Cobham”, “Fireball”, “Storm Cloud”, “Prairie Fire”) and deep purple (“Prairie Night”, “Blue Stocking”).
Tip
Monarda fistulosa (“late Indian nettle”) tolerates more drought than Monarda didyma and is also not as susceptible to mildew.
