Monarda Beauty Of Cobham | 1.5L Pot

Long flowering and great with grasses. Position: full sun or partial shade Soil: fertile, moist, well-drained soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: July to September Hardiness: fully hardy A long flowering season, lemony, aromatic leaves and distinctive whorls of narrow-petalled, tufted flowers set above a ruff of purple bracts, all add to the appeal of bergamot. ‘Beauty of Cobham’ has pink flowers surrounded by striking, purple-pink bracts from July to September and pointed, purplish green leaves. It looks gorgeous planted en masse in the middle of a sunny, mixed or herbaceous border, where it will be smothered with butterflies and bees during the flowering period. It associates particularly well with ornamental grasses, and the flowers make a lovely winter silhouette as they die. One of the oldest and most popular varieties, it does best in a soil that retains moisture over summer. 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.