Monarda fistulosa sports complex flowers, a very different shape than any other flower I know of.
M. fistulosa is excellent for pollinators. It attracts a wide range of insects; the only plant I have ever seen a hummingbird moth on!
Used herbally for its “nerve-relaxing, antispasmodic, digestive-calming, antiviral, fever-reducing, drawing, and wound-healing” properties (Northeast Medicinal Plants, Liz Neves)
Growth Parameters:
Expect a plant 4 to 5 feet tall at maturity. Likes sun but can certainly deal with some shade, like on the edge of a hedgerow. Flexible with soil moisture and texture. The roots are quite superficial, so mulching amongst the plants can be very beneficial to add organic matter to the surface. The roots are not long lived, so let the flowers set seed in your garden.
