Bergamot 'Apple Blossom' (Oswego tea or Bee balm)
Monarda didyma
Bergamot 'Apple blossom' is a fast growing, hardy and easy perennial herb.
It thrives in most normal, moist garden soils in full sun and positively loves a good breezy spot!
Extra watering maybe beneficial in very dry spells.
A mulch of organic matter in the spring can help keep the soil moist.
It looks great planted in drifts in the middle of a bed, or as a backdrop for smaller flowering plants.
Do not plant too close together as clump sizes will gradually increase.
Like all bergamots the foliage is aromatic and in mid- to late-summer spires covered in whorls of fragrant flowers are formed.
These are highly attractive to bees, and indeed all flying insects – hence the name 'bee balm'.
You can create your own insect colony by planting alongside oreganos and marjorams which flower at the same time.
For tips and a recipe for using this herb check out our page for red bergamot