Lemon Bergamot Monarda citriodora
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- mo-NAR-da sih-tri-OH-dor-ah
- Description
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Lemon beebalm is an annual or biennial in the mint (Lamiaceae) family native to southern USA and northern Mexico. It has spread eastward and can be found in several southern states. Lemon beebalm grows on slopes and hills, along roadsides or in prairies, meadows, and savannas. Genus name honors Nicholas Monardes, physician and botanist of Seville. The species name refers to the lemon scent.
This plant prefers rocky limestone soil and sandy loam but will adapt to other well-drained soils. It does best in full sun and if happy will reseed and form colonies. Propagation is with seeds that can be planted in the fall or early spring.
The flowers are showy and unusual. Whorl-like clusters of flowers appear in interrupted heads on a square stem from spring through mid-summer. The flowers and leaves have a lemon scent and the leaves are edible. It is deer and rabbit-resistant.
Use this plant in an edible garden, pollinator garden and naturalized areas such as meadows and prairies. If you like hummingbirds, plant Lemon beebalm in masse to attract them.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems but watch for powdery mildew. Keeping the soil moist will help prevent follicular diseases. May become floppy if over-fertilized.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- ssp. austromontana
Ususally has white flowers
- ssp. austromontana
- ssp. austromontana
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- ssp. austromontana
Ususally has white flowers
- ssp. austromontana
- ssp. austromontana
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Monarda
- Species:
- citriodora
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Biennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- IL, MO, KS south to AL, MS, LA, TX, NM, and Mexico
- Distribution:
- Spread eastward and now found in AL, AR, AZ, FL, GA, IL, KS, KY, LA, MO, MS, NE, NM, OK, SC, TN, TX, UT
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds
- Edibility:
- Leaves used raw or cooked for flavoring in salads, cooked foods, and for tea.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Edible
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Schizocarp
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Dry schizocarps, separating into usually 4 nutlets
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Tubular 2-lipped lavender to pink to white flowers occurs in 2-6 interrupted clusters around the upper stem. Under each whorl of flowers are leafy purple to greenish bracts. Individual flowers are 3/4 inch long. Bloom time is spring to mid-summer
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Oblanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate leaves on short stems have an angled or tapered base and are tapered to a sharply pointed tip, often bristle-tipped. Margins are finely toothed, upper surface with sparse short hairs and the underside sparsely to moderately hairy. Both surfaces have conspicuous impressed glands. Upper leaves are larger and may appear whorled at the top of the stem
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Stout green stems are square and covered with short hairs
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Edible Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Rabbits
