So many plant nurseries sell Didyma but not Fistulosa. I wonder why that is, as Fistulosa has a MUCH larger native range in the US. Anyways, here's my Fistulosa as it blooms today.
It is used a ton in native plantings in Ohio and there are a few reasons they don’t show up in yards and nurseries. Primary is that it is aggressive. Also, didyma is a draw for a human favorite pollinator, hummingbirds. We use it a lot in large rewilding projects along with other aggressive natives to help choke out aggressive invasive colonizers. Recently I have seen it, Solidago canadensis, and several grasses used to do a hasty establishment of natives in a former golf course.
toxicodendron_gyp
I will fight you over best monarda.
Monarda Bradburiana, hands down.
3739444
I’m curious to see if mine will bloom in my very shady yard. At least if it doesn’t I can harvest for tea.
This is from last year July. These and goldenrod were battling overgrown lawn grasses, buckthorn, and invasive honeysuckle before I converted that area to natives. They’re still one of my most prevalent plants and they make a nice furry carpet in the summer.
MagnoliaMacrophylla
Each to their own Monarda, I like punctata the best.
GingerVRD
Omg monarda showdown
dewitteillustration
Punctata is still my favourite but they’re all good.
mangoes
This isnt monarda punctata.
The more monarda the better though!
Kangaroodle
Better monarda is for sure Monarda fistulosa.
The best? Monarda citriodora!
aagent888
Looks lovely! I’m setting up a spot now for Monarda punctata.
As I continue to create garden spots i hope to add some fistula in as well!
General_Bumblebee_75
Mine is at least a month from blooming, but I do love it!
Wiscolomom
The only thing that I have planted that has been able to compete with and overpower bishops weed. Love it.
IkaluNappa
I keep both species for over five years now. Kept wild bergamot longer than scarlet beebalm. The wild bergamot is hand down much more popular with pollinators and hummingbirds in particular. The leaves also smell much nicer and taste just as lovely compared to scarlets. They tolerate a much, much wider soil condition compared to scarlets. They’re not aggressive. I wish they would be, to be honest. They just grow to their colony size and stop. As much as I love bergamot, I don’t normally recommend them to new gardeners for one reason: powdery mildew. The disease doesn’t harm them all that much nor does it spreads, just makes them look beat up. Scarlets get them too but it’s rarely as bad as bergamot. Appearance is what drives their selling point for new gardeners. They can grow tall and look scraggy towards the end of the season. It is what it is. Those with more experience or specifically looking for plants with high wildlife value are more likely to seek them out.
13 Comments
It is used a ton in native plantings in Ohio and there are a few reasons they don’t show up in yards and nurseries. Primary is that it is aggressive. Also, didyma is a draw for a human favorite pollinator, hummingbirds. We use it a lot in large rewilding projects along with other aggressive natives to help choke out aggressive invasive colonizers. Recently I have seen it, Solidago canadensis, and several grasses used to do a hasty establishment of natives in a former golf course.
I will fight you over best monarda.
Monarda Bradburiana, hands down.
I’m curious to see if mine will bloom in my very shady yard. At least if it doesn’t I can harvest for tea.
https://preview.redd.it/twqgxehx284f1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=306b4f9167a30830ab19c0d155e72395e070abe6
This is from last year July. These and goldenrod were battling overgrown lawn grasses, buckthorn, and invasive honeysuckle before I converted that area to natives. They’re still one of my most prevalent plants and they make a nice furry carpet in the summer.
Each to their own Monarda, I like punctata the best.
Omg monarda showdown
Punctata is still my favourite but they’re all good.
This isnt monarda punctata.
The more monarda the better though!
Better monarda is for sure Monarda fistulosa.
The best? Monarda citriodora!
Looks lovely! I’m setting up a spot now for Monarda punctata.
As I continue to create garden spots i hope to add some fistula in as well!
Mine is at least a month from blooming, but I do love it!
The only thing that I have planted that has been able to compete with and overpower bishops weed. Love it.
I keep both species for over five years now. Kept wild bergamot longer than scarlet beebalm. The wild bergamot is hand down much more popular with pollinators and hummingbirds in particular. The leaves also smell much nicer and taste just as lovely compared to scarlets. They tolerate a much, much wider soil condition compared to scarlets. They’re not aggressive. I wish they would be, to be honest. They just grow to their colony size and stop. As much as I love bergamot, I don’t normally recommend them to new gardeners for one reason: powdery mildew. The disease doesn’t harm them all that much nor does it spreads, just makes them look beat up. Scarlets get them too but it’s rarely as bad as bergamot. Appearance is what drives their selling point for new gardeners. They can grow tall and look scraggy towards the end of the season. It is what it is. Those with more experience or specifically looking for plants with high wildlife value are more likely to seek them out.