Monarda 'Raspberry Wine'

Monarda 'Raspberry Wine': Raspberry-Red Spreader for Big Beds

'Raspberry Wine' pours itself a tall one and heads straight for the patio. Shaggy raspberry-red heads, aromatic leaves and hummingbirds that keep coming back for refills. THE HAPPY HOUR NEVER ENDS.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Monarda 'Raspberry Wine'
• Common Name: Bee Balm
• Height: 90–120 cm (3–4 ft)
• Spread: 60–90 cm (2–3 ft)
• Flowers: Shaggy heads of raspberry to wine red
• Bloom Time: Midsummer (July to August)
• Foliage: Green and aromatic, less prone to powdery mildew than older bee balms
• Features: Fragrant foliage, good cut flower

Where to Plant: Use it at the back of a border, in a cottage garden, along a rain garden or in a wildlife planting. It spreads to form a broad patch, so give it room in a larger bed or a meadow-style garden.

Companion Plants: Tradescantia 'Concord Grape' brings purple flowers at 40 to 45 cm from June to September, a deep, rich partner for raspberry red. Anemone Frilly Knickers™ follows with white flowers at 45 to 60 cm from August to October. Solidago 'Little Miss Sunshine' adds yellow at 30 to 45 cm from July to October. Grow them all in full sun or part sun.

Plant Care: Plant in full sun to part sun in evenly moist, fertile, well-drained soil. Don't let it dry out in summer, since a dry, stressed plant is more likely to get powdery mildew. Water at the base and leave space between plants for air flow. Deadhead to tidy it and stretch out the bloom. Cut stems to the ground in late fall or early spring. It spreads by shallow runners and can cover ground quickly. Divide every two or three years in early spring to control its size and keep the centre from dying out.

History: 'Raspberry Wine' was introduced by White Flower Farm of Connecticut in 1992. Its exact parentage isn't published, and it's sometimes listed under Monarda didyma.

Final Thoughts: Plant it near the deck so you and the hummingbirds can sip together. Cut a few stems for the table. POUR ANOTHER GLASS.