Monarda is a fragrant decoration of the territory of any garden. Monarda - perennial ornamental plant, reproduction, care

Monarda is an unusual name and completely unusual flower. Being brought to the continent from America back in the time of Christopher Columbus, the flower was forgotten for almost a century. Now it is successfully grown in our latitudes. In addition to the beauty of the monard, it carries useful medicinal properties.

The flower got its name in honor of the botanist Nicolo Monardi, the man who discovered this species to the civilized world.

Monarda is perennial, shrub, with unusual flowers and a pleasant citrus smell. It usually has four shades in the color spectrum: red, lilac, lilac and purple. It grows up to 90 cm and has an inflorescence with a circumference of almost 8 cm.

An unusual, exotic, impressive flower takes root well in open ground and does not require special care.

In total, the monarda has about 15 species, but 4 of them are called the main ones:

  • fistulate
  • double
  • lemon (lemon-scented)
  • hybrid

Planting and care in the open field

Monarda loves sunlight and moist soil. Wet, but not waterlogged. Also, if a planting site is chosen in the shade, it will not bloom actively.

It is important that the place of growth is fenced as much as possible from the effects of winds.

The soil for planting is prepared in the fall - they dig it up, remove extraneous roots of weeds, add humus and peat, slaked lime and superphosphate.

Preferably the soil should be calcareous, light and good drainage. Seedlings are placed in the soil at the end of April. The flower tolerates frost well down to -30, so even in the event of frost, the seedlings will not suffer.

During planting, you need to add nitrogen fertilizers.

The distance between seedlings should be at least half a meter, as the bush grows luxuriantly.

Basic plant care consists of:

  • watering: in hot weather Monarda is watered every day. Under normal conditions - every other day.
  • weeding: weeding is necessary to provide air access to the roots, as well as to help young plant in weed control.
  • top dressing: from the moment of planting until autumn, the monard is fed mineral fertilizers every two weeks.

Despite the exotic origin, the flower tolerates cold well. Therefore, it does not need shelter for the winter. Stems that have dried up for winter are not cut off - this helps the rhizome not to freeze. They are harvested in the spring.

Main types

Monarda fistula

Blooms from July to September.

Monarda fistula contains the most essential oils in comparison with other types of this plant. Even in ancient times, the Indians used the leaves of this flower to treat cuts and bruises - an alternative to our road leaf.

Young greens of the flower are eaten - as a seasoning for meat, and also as a tea flavor.

Monarda double

The flowers are bright red. And also an alternative name - "red bergamot" or "bee bergamot". It appeared due to the intense smell that the double monard spreads. The smell of this type of monarda is very similar to the smell of bergamot.

Often landscape designers use a double monard in the so-called "mixborders" - plantings along pavement paths, where the flowers, one by one, change color as they bloom.

Monarda lemon

It is an annual plant.

Lemon mint (the second name of lemon monarda) blooms throughout the summer months and has a pronounced lemon smell, due to its high saturation with essential oils. It differs from other monards in appearance - the inflorescences are not single, but arranged 3-4 on one stem.

Monarda hybrid

Blooms in July and August. It has 3 colors - white, purple and red. Its leaves and shoots are quite edible and are often used by gourmets as an ingredient in salads.

The entire aerial part of the plant is used for the preparation of medicines.

Medicinal properties and contraindications

Use in medicinal purposes the aerial part of the shrub - stems and inflorescences at the beginning of flowering. It was during this period, because the Monarda highlights the most a large number of essential oils for which it is valued.

When harvesting, it is important not to damage the stems so that the useful ester does not evaporate. The collected flowers are dried in a dark room (for example, an attic) and then used for the desired purposes.

  • Monarda oil is suitable for helping with colds. It is added to inhalations or aromatherapy is used.
  • The oil also helps with the healing of minor wounds and cuts. To do this, you need to mix Monarda oil with alcohol in a ratio of 5: 1 and wash the injured areas several times a day.
  • In addition, essential oil is a good tonic. To achieve the effect, it is enough to massage using ether.
  • Another cosmetic effect will help eliminate excessive shine of the face and help in the fight against acne. To do this, add a couple of drops to the face tonic used.

There are contraindications for young children and pregnant women. It is better for these categories not to use monarda oil, or use it with caution.

And you should not use oil in excessive quantities either - it can cause adverse reactions in the body.

Monarda in the kitchen

One of the options for using the collected and dried monarda is the preparation of homemade spices. To do this, dried stems and leaves are carefully ground and stored in a well-sealed jar.

Also, Monarda flowers can be brewed as Herb tea. Lemon monarda works well for this. Pour 2 tablespoons of herbs and let it brew for half an hour - that's the whole simple recipe.


This is tall plant(0.8 - 1 m) with original flowers - "tattered", the leaves of which smell of the aromas of various oils, came to us from America.

And in botany, according to the classification of Carl Linnaeus, it is named after another scientist who first described this plant.
And although its decorative properties are also used in our latitudes, it is the taste and medicinal qualities of monarda that have found much greater use so far.

What is useful in Monarda

In the aerial part of the monarda (leaves and inflorescences) - up to three percent of EM (essential oil).

Depending on the type and variety, essential oils may differ in composition, but it always contains phenols, isomeric hydrocarbons and other substances: p-cymines, t-imol, aromatic aldehydes, methyl ether.


The grass also contains vitamins: C, B1 and B2.
The essential oil of this plant is considered the best antibacterial agent in aromatherapy.

Monarda: medicinal properties

Medicines from the plant have the following effects on the body:

  • antiseptic,
  • antispasmodic,
  • laxative/diuretic.

Tea brewed from the flowers of the plant tastes similar to mint. For cooking use red monarda flowersgrowing in the wild.

The drink is indicated to use:

  • as a temperature reducer
  • with disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.

But tea, already brewed from the leaves of the plant, helps well with colds.

Application in medicine

Monarda, the healing qualities of which were discovered several centuries ago, are used for various diseases- the herb is known both in folk and traditional medicine.

Monarda essential oil
Oil can be bought at a pharmacy. On its basis, a large number of medicines are also produced.
The tool improves blood circulation, protects the body from the harmful effects of excessive doses of radiation.

Monarda oil is also used for burns, cuts; for faster fusion of fractures, as well as for tuberculosis, atherosclerosis, anemia. The drug has an anti-sclerotic effect.

Homemade oil monarda recipe:

  • Dry herb monarda - 1 part,
  • refined vegetable oil - 10 parts,
  • heat for 2.5 hours in a water bath (t 55-60⁰C), cool, filter.

Monarda infusion
One teaspoonful of raw material from the fistula monarda is poured with 250 grams of boiling water and infused for 10 minutes and taken throughout the day.

You can drink both hot infusion and chilled to room temperature. You can add sugar if there are no contraindications.
This infusion helps to normalize the functioning of the nervous system.

Use in cooking

Monarda is a spice that is used in culinary arts. Actually, grass is grown mainly as a spice. It can be added to different dishes: meat and fish, side dishes, salads and even jam - depending on your taste preferences.


Monarda (flowers and leaves of the plant) is also used to preserve tomatoes and cucumbers. So preservation is stored longer, and acquires a wonderful aroma of bergamot.

Contraindications

  • Diseases of the liver and kidneys.
  • Hypertension.
  • Pregnancy and lactation period.

Another plant can not be added to tea for allergy sufferers; should be postponed with regard to preschool children.
In principle, excessive use of any medicinal herb, even in the absence of clearly expressed contraindications, after a while it will lead to a deterioration in well-being.
Everything should be in moderation.

Monarda is beautiful herbaceous plant with variegated flowers and pleasant citrus aroma. Such a culture can not only decorate a flower bed or flower garden, but also use it as medicine or culinary ingredient. Learn about planting a monarda and caring for it in the open field from our article.

Monarda belongs to the Yasnotkov family, she came to European countries from North America. Has a culture of several various titles: Lemon Balm, American Melissa or Monarda Bergamot. This plant is annual or perennial, blooms with white, yellow, red, purple or pink buds. During flowering, it attracts many bees, as it is a good honey plant.

In our latitudes, several types of monarda are common:

  1. Monarda is fistulate, it is also tubular - a perennial culture that grows up to 120 cm in height. During flowering, it releases pinkish-lilac spherical buds, the smell of which is somewhat similar to thyme. Breeders of Russia brought out and dwarf variety monarda fistula, calling it "Victoria".
  2. Monarda point refers to annuals. Its decorative qualities lie not so much in flowering as in beautiful salmon-colored foliage. The smell of this species is harsh, which is why the culture has earned the name of horse mint among the people. The height of its stems reaches 80 cm.
  3. Monarda double - medium-sized perennial with a stem height of up to 80 cm. It blooms with rich red or purple buds, the smell of which contains bright citrus notes.
  4. Monarda lemon is annual species. Its stems grow about 90 cm in height. During the flowering period, they are covered with purple or lilac small buds. It got its name because the stems, leaves and flowers themselves have a strong lemon smell.
  5. The hybrid monarda is a mixed species obtained by crossing the monarda double and fistulate. It blooms in all sorts of shades, ranging from white to dark purple.

If we consider the most popular monarda varieties in our country, then it is worth highlighting the following:

  1. Croftey Punk is a variety loved by gardeners for its shade tolerance and abundant flowering. The flowers of this monarda are painted in a pinkish-lilac hue. Culture not only decorates flower beds, but often cut stems for bouquets.
  2. Variety "Mahogany" is distinguished by beautiful rich red flowers with twisted petals. This plant blooms early and pleases the eye until the first frost.
  3. Monarda variety "Terry Fairy Tale" is a perennial with good frost resistance. On the tall stems during flowering, purple buds bloom, which smell quite strongly, and you can catch minty notes in their aroma. This variety is a good honey plant, used as a medicine and culinary ingredient.
  4. Monarda variety "Scarlett" is a perennial plant with tall, up to 90 cm stems. It blooms for a relatively short time - in July-August. It is also a good honey plant, which is why it is recommended to plant it on vegetable beds. It blooms with buds of a rich red hue, their size reaches 7 cm in diameter.
  5. Monarda "Mona Lisa" is annual variety and in our latitudes it reproduces only by seedlings. Unpretentious to the composition of the soil, blooms in small buds.
  6. The variety "Cytodera Harlequin" has compact bushes 30-35 cm in height. During budding, they are covered small flowers lilac shade, smelling of bergamot. It is used in cooking as a spice, has good decorative properties.

Monarda, photo

Planting monarda seeds

Monarda is often grown from seeds, and in warm climates, in southern latitudes, they are sown directly into the soil as early as February. During February-March, while the weather is cold, the seeds in the ground are stratified, that is, hardened. By April, they become strong sprouts, all further work is to thin them out.

The process of sowing seeds can be described as follows:

  1. Choose a plot for growing monarda and clear the snow there. Temporarily cover the ground with foil. Choose serene sunny days so that the soil can warm up under the film.
  2. After removing the film, loosen the soil, immediately adding a little sand to it. Monarda seeds are also mixed with sand in a ratio of 1: 4.
  3. Sow the seeds and sprinkle thin layer sand. Plant the crop to a depth of 2.5 cm.
  4. Monarda can also be sown in autumn months by collecting seeds from plants. In the spring, the sprouts will need to dive, and a year later, the culture will delight you with its flowering.

Planting monarda seeds in middle lane run from May to July. The area with seedlings is covered with a film for 3 weeks, which is periodically removed for a short time to water and ventilate the plants. After a year, the sprouts can be transplanted into a flower bed intended for them. Between the bushes observe a distance of 50-60 cm.

Reproduction of Monarda seedlings

Where the climate is cool, the crop is best grown seedling way. Here are the details of such a process:

  1. Seeds for seedlings are planted in last days February or the first weeks of March. Grains are dug into the soil, poured into containers for vegetable seedling. Then the earth is covered with a film and put in a warm place with a constant temperature of 20 ° C.
  2. After a couple of weeks, sprouts will appear in containers. They need to be allowed to grow up for 20 days, and then dive and plant in cups.
  3. Before transferring seedlings to open ground, they must be fertilized with nitrogen fertilizing 2 times.
  4. You can transplant plants into a flower bed when you see 3 pairs of true leaves on the stems. AT open ground sprouts are well watered immediately after transplantation.

The seedling method of growing allows you to get flowering in the current year.

Site selection and soil preparation for growing monarda

Let's figure out what kind of land culture loves and how to properly prepare it:

  1. Monarda does not like acidic soils. If there is such land on your site, lime it. The plant also prefers light soils.
  2. The soil in the garden for the Monarda has been prepared since autumn. They dig it, choosing weeds along with the roots, making top dressing. 2 kg of peat, 3 kg of humus, 20 g of potassium salt, 40 g of lime and 50 g of superphosphate are added per 1 m² of plot.
  3. In the spring, before planting, the earth is loosened and applied to not yet 30 g of nitrogen fertilizers.

Choosing a place for the monarda should be based on the following recommendations:

  1. First of all, you need to take into account the size of the bush. As a rule, the average dimensions are 80 cm in height and 50 cm in diameter. Therefore, the monard should be planted at intervals of 35 cm.
  2. Culture is not photophilous, prefers shaded places. It is desirable that they are not blown by drafts.
  3. Many gardeners practice growing monarda in vegetable beds, as the plant is a good honey plant. In addition, the proximity of vegetable crops with the Monarda favorably affects palatability harvests.

Monard care

Culture is considered unpretentious, because caring for it is very simple:

  1. It is necessary to water the bushes 2 times a week, but in dry summers and in extreme heat it is better to irrigate the plants every day.
  2. So that water does not quickly evaporate from the ground, it is worth mulching the soil in a flower bed with a monard. As mulch, humus or wood shavings are used.
  3. Weeding - required condition care. Weeds not only spoil decorative look flower garden, but also take nutrients from the monarda.
  4. The earth in the flower bed must sometimes be loosened so that the roots "breathe" oxygen. Please note that loosening must be carried out carefully so as not to hook on the delicate roots.
  5. They feed the monarda with fertilizers quite often, starting from the moment of transplantation and ending late autumn. After transplantation, complex mineral compositions, after 3 weeks do organic feeding. Then, 2 times a month, the monard is fertilized with Kemira or Agricol.
  6. When growing a perennial monarda, it must be transplanted to a new place at least 1 time in 5 years.
  7. Perennial varieties also need to be prepared for wintering. In the warm climate of the southern regions, the bushes are left uncut until spring, often without even covering them with anything. In the middle lane in autumn, dead stems are cut off, and then covered with spruce branches or dry foliage.

Monarda breeding methods

Varietal and species crops are propagated by dividing the bush in order to preserve decorative features. We describe the subtleties of such a process:

  1. It is customary to divide bushes aged 3-4 years. The procedure is carried out in April, when it is already quite warm, or in September.
  2. Having dug up a bush from the ground, they wash off the earth from the roots running water, and then divide the plant into several parts, approximately the same in size.
  3. Sections are disinfected with crushed coal.
  4. On the site, they dig holes for landing and plant delenki on them. In a couple of years, they will reach a meter in diameter, so you need to either immediately maintain the required distance, or subsequently transplant the bushes to a more convenient place.

Sometimes the monarda is propagated by cuttings. They do it like this:

  1. Cuttings are cut from green shoots, the length of each such segment should be about 10 cm. The procedure is carried out before bud formation begins.
  2. The lower leaves are cut off from the cuttings, and the upper ones are cut by a third.
  3. Large containers are poured into containers. river sand, water it and dig in the cuttings.
  4. From above, the containers are covered with spunbond and placed in a dark place for 2-3 weeks, during which roots should appear.
  5. Transplanted cuttings to a flower bed in the second half of summer.

Diseases and pests of Monarda

  1. Most often, the monarda suffers from powdery mildew. As a rule, this ailment is observed with insufficient watering, therefore it is important to regularly irrigate the culture. You can cure a plant from powdery mildew, this will require cow's milk. It is mixed with water in a ratio of 1: 8 and the bushes are irrigated with a spray bottle. By the way, such manipulations can also be a good prevention of the disease.
  2. Sometimes, very rarely, the monarda can be affected by rust or tobacco mosaic. But at proper care adult bushes almost do not get sick.
  3. Monarde pests are practically not terrible, since the high content of essential oils and the pronounced aroma simply scare them away.

The use of monarda in landscape design

  • The bright shade of monarda buds allows you to make it the main plant in flower arrangement. Not all cultures can get along with it, therefore gardeners advise choosing daisies, anemones, phloxes, asters, delphinium or echinacea as companions.
  • A flower garden with a monard can be decorated in a steppe style. To do this, you need to supplement it with willow loosestrife, echinacea, virginian physiostegia. Cereal plants are perfect as a background for colorful buds.
  • A field-style flower bed can be created with the help of monarda, bluebells, black cohosh, astilba and irises.
  • If you have a flower garden round shape, plant a monarda in its very center, and on a wall flower bed it is better to take a part near the wall for this plant.

The healing qualities of Monarda

  1. Monarda is considered useful product for the digestive tract, so it is often used as a spice.
  2. The plant contains an antiseptic substance - thymol. Therefore, you can use a decoction of the culture for rinsing the mouth.
  3. It has monarda in its composition and essential oils, which are useful for respiratory diseases.
  4. A decoction of the plant is used as a carminative and immunomodulatory agent.
  5. Monarda foliage is also very useful, as it has the ability to disinfect and heal wounds. The plucked leaf of the monarda is washed and crushed so that the juice stands out, and then applied to the wound.
  6. Monarda stems are also added to canned food so that they are stored longer and do not deteriorate.

Monarda: landing and care. Video

Monarda is an ancient plant. Since ancient times, many peoples have appreciated its healing properties. Moreover, it still acts as a seasoning in food to improve the taste. Such a wide range of diseases that a flower copes with is due to the huge number of useful components contained in the plant. In addition, monarda is able to strengthen the immune system and saturate the body with all the necessary substances and minerals.

Monarda medicinal properties and contraindications

A feature of the monarda is the fact that the plant can reach up to one meter in height. how vegetable crop it is valued for keeping greenery between early spring and until late autumn. Even the first frosts are not terrible for her. All its medicinal properties are explained by the presence of a large number of vitamins, active elements and their compounds. Monarda has received the widest distribution in homeopathy.

Medicinal properties

The healing properties of Monarda are very diverse, so it is valued in homeopathy, herbal medicine and other branches of medicine. For example, the essential oil of a plant contains unique bactericidal properties. Strengthening the immune system, relieving inflammation and spasms - all this is possible thanks to the essential oil. It is used not only for eczema and burns, but also for diseases of the respiratory system.

The characteristics of Monarda allow it to be used in conjunction with antibiotics, since the plant only enhances the effect of the drug. symbiosis of antibiotics and medicinal herb will reduce the dosage of the drug itself. On the initial stage oncological diseases, monarda will be a very effective assistant, but in this case, consultation with a specialist is required.
The use of Monarda will be very useful for the following ailments: cystitis, sinusitis, pneumonia, otitis media, indigestion, tuberculosis and atherosclerosis.

Contraindications

Despite a host of healing and beneficial properties, there are several contraindications to the use of monarda:

  • Contraindicated in women during pregnancy and lactation, as there is a risk of harm.
  • It is also not recommended for children under five years of age to use preparations based on this plant.
  • The internal use of preparations based on a flower or greenery is prohibited. Aroma lamps with essential oil also do not include in rooms where there are pregnant women and small children.

The use of monarda in folk medicine

In the treatment of asthma, tuberculosis, otitis media, pneumonia, burns, radiation sickness, tuberculosis and a number of other diseases, Monarda is widely used. For example, juice can be squeezed out of the leaves of a plant, which has a wound-healing effect. You can also brew tea and add dry herb of this plant to it - this drink will be very useful for wounds and fractures. AT traditional medicine with its help, diseases of the upper respiratory tract are also treated - for this, 3 tablespoons are poured with boiling water and kept in a steam bath for 10-15 minutes. Such an infusion can not only be drunk, but also used as a compress and inhalation.

Monarda oil medicinal properties

Recipes with Monarda oil can be listed endlessly. We list the most effective of them. For example, for worms, 2 drops of essential oil should be mixed with 0.005 liters of glycerin oil and heated a little. The resulting mixture is rubbed into the stomach.

Massage using a product based on this component will help smooth out wrinkles and slow down aging.

How to make oil using a flower:
0.015 l of any essential oil is mixed with 3 drops of monard and 2 drops of lime oils.

The use of this tool will help clear the vessels and remove atherosclerotic plaques.

Monarda species

The main types of this flower are: double, fissile, hybrid, charantia, lemon, and so on. Each variety has its own medicinal properties. Negative properties are the same for everyone: pregnancy and children's body up to 5 years.

Lemon

Lemon Monarda gets its name from its exceptional lemon flavor. It is used in perfumery and cosmetology, as well as as a spice in the preparation of vermouth. In medicine, it is used as a natural antiseptic.
With the use of this variety, tea is made famous all over the world for its taste and medicinal components. It destroys the virus and helps fight asthma.

Binary

This flower is used for colds in the form of inhalation. It can also be very useful for rheumatism, act as a laxative and antimicrobial agent. Due to the high content of thymol and carvolol, double monarda improves blood circulation and normalizes the functioning of the heart muscle.

hybrid

Such an herb can improve the digestive system and easily cope with colds such as influenza, JVI and acute respiratory infections. It can act not only as an antiviral, but also as an immunomodulating agent.

fistulate

This plant has in its composition a large amount of vitamins - B1, B2, C. It is with a lack of these vitamins that the use of fistula monarda is recommended. In cooking, it is used as a dry seasoning.

Planting and care in the open field

An important issue is the monard planting and care in the open field. This plant is not picky and easily adapts to almost any environment. weather conditions. However, for more saturation of the plant useful elements, you should follow some rules when landing.

Landing

It is best to plant Monarda in the spring. But if she grows on open area, prepare seeds and soil since autumn. For every sq.m. add 2 kg of peat, 20 g of potassium salt, 40 g of lime and 40 g of superphosphate. Additionally, already when planting in the spring, it is recommended to add 25 g nitrogen fertilizer for every square metre.

Growing monarda

After the shoots appear, two months should pass. After the specified period, several leaves should appear. Seedlings are grown in a prepared area, where minimum distance between each pair is 60 cm. Flowering should occur in a year.

Features of care

Young shoots require moderate and frequent watering. The site itself in the summer is better to mulch with humus. The soil should be loosened, while not forgetting to remove weeds. In the summer, feed the plant with Agricola once every two weeks. In spring and autumn, as a rule, processing is carried out blue vitriol.

Monarda flavor drink concentrate - reviews about the application

As the reviews show, this drink has a lot more advantages. It is important that Monarda really helps with various diseases including influenza and asthma. Despite the not very pleasant aftertaste, the concentrate is very useful. It is best to drink it in a course.

In fields and meadows, in gardens and flower beds, a tender lilac flower with a subtle citrus scent called monarda. Latin name Monarda.

This name combines a whole botanical genus of herbs and belongs to the Lamiaceae family.

The name of this genus was given by the Swedish naturalist and physician of the 18th century, Carl Linnaeus, in honor of the Spanish scientist and physician of the 16th century, Nicholas Monardes, who published a work on the new plants of America in 1574.


Monarda flower has a delicate citrus aroma

Appearance

In the ranks of varieties of the genus Monarda, both annuals and perennials are found.

Here is a list of the main external characteristics inherent in the entire botanical genus:

  • Stems are straight and branched. Reach up to 15 cm - 150 cm.
  • The leaves are lanceolate and light green in color. The location is opposite. The length reaches from 6 to 15 cm, and the width is from 3 to 8 cm. The ends of the leaves are pointed.
  • Inflorescences are basket-shaped. They consist of several flower whorls with a diameter of up to 6-7 cm.
  • The flowers are small funnel-shaped tubes. Painted mainly in lilac, purple, purple and red. Blooms from June to September.
  • The fruits are double dry nuts.

Ground stems are long and horizontal

The leaves of the monarda are large, serrated, oblong

Flowers are collected in one or more inflorescences-heads, color from lilac to red shades.

The fruits are located in place of the flower in the form of dry nuts

Kinds

The botanical genus Monarda includes about 20 varieties of the plant. Many of them are often used in gardening.

The most popular are:

  • Lemon.
  • Binary.
  • Fistulate.
  • Spot.
  • Dwarf.
  • Fragrant.
  • Average.
  • Russell.
  • Soft.
  • Bradbury.
  • Red.
  • Comb.
  • Scattered.

lemon monarda often used as an ornamental and spicy plant

Monarda double herb has a bergamot smell and is used as a tea.

Aboveground part fistula monarda is used in canning and for marinades

Where does it grow

The origin of this plant is attributed to the countries of North America. This flower was brought to Europe by Spanish sailors after Columbus discovered New World. Due to its decorative effect and aroma, it has spread throughout the mainland, including our country.


Today monarda grows almost everywhere

spice making method

Consuming Monarda spices is one of the many uses for this herb.

To make spices from this plant, you need:

  • Collect monarda during flowering. It was at this time that it contained the maximum content of essential oil.
  • Cut stems no shorter than 25 cm from the soil.
  • Dry and grind.
  • It should be stored, like other spices, in a tightly closed dry container.


For long-term use, Monarda is dried and stored in a tightly closed container.

Contraindications

As with the use of any other medicinal herb, care should also be taken when using monarda.

  • Excessive use may cause adverse reactions.
  • Do not take during pregnancy and lactation.
  • It has an age limit: not for children under 5 years old.
  • It is not advised to use aroma lamps with a monard in rooms with small children and pregnant women.

Peculiarities

Most characteristic properties of all types of monarda are:

  • Mint-lemon aroma, inherent mainly in the trunks and flowers of the plant.
  • Honey-bearing property, due to which butterflies, bees and even hummingbirds (in those places where they are found) always circle above the flower.
  • The third important quality of the monarda, characteristic of the whole genus, is that all flowers contain a huge supply of essential oil. The most meaningful flower in this regard is Monarda double (Monarda didyma).


Monarda flower has an alluring aroma for insects and even hummingbirds


Useful properties of essential oil


Monard oil helps with various diseases, especially good for depression.

If necessary and desired, Monarda oil extract can be made at home. Such an extract is useful during a runny nose and is suitable as a bactericidal agent for the treatment of injuries and wounds.

To make this extract:

  1. Mix any refined oil plant origin and dried parts of the monard flower in a ratio of 1:10.
  2. Prepare a water bath and keep the mixture of oils in it for a couple of hours.
  3. Then cool and strain. The healing oil mixture is ready.

Many of the healing qualities of Monarda essential oil can also be observed in oils of other herbs. For example, oil tea tree has similar medicinal properties and is also widely used in cosmetology. The aromatic and medicinal properties of lavender and clove oil are also similar to those of bee balm oil. However, only this oil can normalize the level of oxygen in the cells of the body.

Monarda oil is unique in its healing features means:

  • it is the first and last scientifically proven oil to treat radiation sickness and protect against radiation. People with radiation sickness are advised to drink teas with bee balm oil.
  • this tea also helps people with cancer after chemotherapy.

However, only a doctor can prescribe such people to drink this tea.


Monarda oil is widely used in cosmetology

Monarda oil is also used in the following cases:

  • During acute respiratory diseases and bronchial asthma as an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agent. You can be treated with aromatherapy, adding drops of oil to aroma lamps, or inhalations.
  • To enhance the effect of antibiotics and speed up the healing process. To increase the effect of aroma lamps, eucalyptus oil can also be added there. For aroma lamps, a drop of Monarda oil for 15 will be enough square meters. It should be noted that aroma lamps with Monarda oil are contraindicated for pregnant women and children under 5-6 years of age.
  • For the treatment of wounds, burns, ulcers and even fractures. With a fracture of the bones, a mixture of oils helps. For its manufacture, 10 ml are needed. wheat germ oil, 5 drops of monard oil and 2 drops of lavender oil. The fracture site should be smeared with this mixture or a compress should be made from it. For wounds, you need to mix a teaspoon of vodka with five drops of monard oil and wash the wound several times during the day.
  • To get rid of worms. To do this, just mix 1 ml of glycerin oil and two drops of Monarda oil. Apply and rub them on your stomach.
  • For foot fungus. To do this, mix a tablespoon vegetable oil with monarch. 5 drops will be enough. Apply to problem areas of the legs and put on socks. Do not remove for 2-3 hours.

Monarda oil is an excellent remedy for worms, foot fungi, as well as for fractures, burns, ulcers

Monard oil can also be used:

  • As an effective anti-aging agent. Due to its composition, it is able to quickly renew body cells and slow down the aging process. As an anti-aging agent, it is ideal to massage with Monarda oil, or add it to face and body creams. To enhance the effect, you can add rose and lime oils.
  • For oily and dry skin. It normalizes the work of the sebaceous glands, tightens pores and eliminates acne. Add a few drops of oil to tonics and face lotions and you will see the effect.
  • This is an excellent tonic, it is a source of strength and vigor. Helps with chronic fatigue. To restore strength and energy, a massage of all parts of the body with Monarda oil is suitable.
  • On the farm to kill mold. To get rid of black mold in residential areas, which is often seen in damp homes, dilute 15 drops of oil with 1 liter of water. Treat the premises with a sprayer with this liquid at least once a week.


Monarda essential oil can not only care for the skin and rejuvenate it, but also be used in the household, for example, against mold

Application

In cooking

In the kitchen, Monarda can be used as:

  • Preservative in pickles, preserves, jams and when storing vegetables in pantries;
  • Greens in salads.
  • Add to soups and main courses.
  • Brew teas and make soft drinks (cocktails).




Consider several recipes for using monarda in the kitchen.

Lemon Balm Tea

For tea you will need: crushed leaves and inflorescences of Oswego tea, boiling water. Pour 2 teaspoons of monarda with 250 ml of boiling water. Do not touch for about half an hour. Strain and drink 60 ml for breakfast, lunch and dinner.


Monarda gives tea the aroma of lemon and bergamot

spring salad

Spring Salad Ingredients:

  • 50 grams of fresh soft lemon mint branches with leaves;
  • 50 grams of green onions;
  • 1 egg;
  • 20 grams of sour cream,
  • a pinch of salt.

Wash branches and onions. Cut into small pieces. Add salt. Slice the egg. Transfer the egg to the previously chopped onion with monarda. Drizzle salad with sour cream and serve.


Dressing for cabbage soup, borscht

As a dressing, monarda can be added a few minutes (15 to 20 minutes) before the end of cooking. For borscht and cabbage soup, you can add 20-30 grams of Monarda, both fresh and dry. Suitable for this and branches with leaves, and the stems and inflorescences of the plant.

Monarda Buttermilk Cocktail

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups buttermilk
  • 1 teaspoon Monarda
  • 1 glass of water

Dilute buttermilk with water. Add monarda powder. Shake well and let it brew for 10-15 minutes in a cold place. This cocktail can be drunk as a soft drink, such as kvass.


Apple jam

To prepare jam with monarda, you must first cook sugar syrup. The syrup should be at least 3 liters and slightly thick. Take about 10 grams of fresh leaves and flowers of bee balm, grind and add to sugar syrup. Boil and keep on low heat for 5-10 minutes. Take a few apples, wash and cut into slices. Add 3 cups chopped apples to the syrup and cook for a while until the desired consistency is obtained.

Use as a preservative

In medicine

Healing properties Monards have been known since ancient times.

It can be used for:

  • cystitis, vaginitis;
  • acute respiratory diseases, runny nose, sinusitis, otitis media;
  • different flu and pneumonia;
  • fungal diseases of the skin of the extremities, eczema, psoriasis;
  • pustular skin diseases (scab);
  • respiratory diseases;
  • tuberculosis;
  • immunodeficiency states;
  • atherosclerosis;
  • stress;
  • anemia, hypoxia;
  • radiation sickness.

In addition, it improves digestion, kills bacteria, rejuvenates. Due to the ability to oxidize, it reduces the high oxygen content in the cells.

Monarda is effective for respiratory and fungal diseases and is good for anemia and stress

Below is a recipe for using bee balm essential oil for dermatitis and children's laryngotracheitis:

For the treatment of dermatitis, mix 0.001 l of monarda oil, 0.002 l of laurel oil, 0.001 l of geranium oil and 0.0065 l nut butter. On the problem areas apply at least 4 times a day until recovery.

Laryngotracheitis in children

With Monarda essential oil, you can prepare nasal drops for children's laryngotracheitis. To do this, you need to take 5 drops of Monarda oil, Patagonian pine, spruce and one drop of eucalyptus oil. Add also 30 ml of oil hazelnut. Rinse your nose with a solution sea ​​salt and put 2 drops in each nostril. Repeat the procedure 3 times a day until recovery.

At home

Flowers of bee balm have found application in the economy:

  • It is put together with vegetables so that they are better stored in the pantry.
  • The smoke of a burnt dry plant is fumigated fruit trees from aphids.
  • Use it for spraying cabbage from caterpillars.


Monarda is used to spray cabbage and repel insects.

Varieties

Monarda is very ornamental plant. On the basis of the species discussed above, about 50 varieties and hybrids have been bred. All of them differ mainly in their color.

Consider several groups of varieties:

In the USA, Great Britain and Germany, with a double and piped monard, perennial varieties monards about 100 cm high.

Dwarf varieties of monarda with red flowers: "Cambridge Scarlet", "Adam", "Mahojin", "Cardinal", "Steppe Blush", "Sunset", "Balance", "Indian", "Little Delight". Since the varieties are bred abroad, there may be other translations of the names of the same varieties. Reach no more than 20-30 cm in height. Among them, "Squaw" ("Indian") is the most frost-resistant variety.

Pink flowers in varieties "Fisches", "Croftway Pink", "Rose Queen", "Cratly Pink".

Popular purple varieties monards: "Sinta-sinta", "Pony" (pale purple); "Blaustrumpf" and "Blue Stocking" (violet-purple). Variety "Pony" is the highest. Reaches up to 180 cm.

Monarda varieties Cardinal refers to dwarf species

Monarda snow white has white flowers

Monarda varieties balance also applies to dwarfs no higher than 20 cm

  • meet and burgundy flowers monards: "Burgundy Moldova", "Prerinakht".
  • Hybrids with white color: Snow White, Schniewitchen, Snow Maiden.
  • There is a variety with lavender flowers: "Elsiez Lavande".
  • And finally, varieties with purple flowers: "Capricorn" - 90 cm, reddish-purple.
  • There is a variety "Lambada", which is grown for 1 year.

cultivation

Bee balm is a rather unpretentious plant, it can bloom both in places under the sun and in slightly dark places. However, it is sensitive to soil characteristics and content. Prefers slightly acidic and not very wet soil. Grow from 1 or more years. It can reproduce by roots every three to four years in spring and autumn.

The stages of cultivation of lemon balm consist of proper fit, fertilizers, loosening, watering, fertilizing, cutting and sheltering in winter:

  • You can plant in gardens, vegetable gardens, flower beds and borders. Many designers love this plant for its ability to decorate penumbra sides.
  • When planting, top dressing should be carried out from nitrofus and lignohumate.
  • And after flowering, fertilize with superphosphate and calcium sulfate.
  • To prolong flowering, remove faded flower heads.
  • In winter, cut off all above-ground parts. And the roots are able to survive the winter and in the spring again grow the aerial part.

In order for the monarda to please you with its flowering, it is necessary to feed it and remove faded tops

Monarda is prone to fungal diseases, especially Puccinia rnenthae. In case of damage to flowers grown for bouquets and decorations, preparations with copper are used. And for flowers grown for the purpose of subsequent use as food additives, it is advisable to treat with onion and tansy infusions, garlic infusion and tomato tops. May be hit powdery mildew, which may indicate overfertilization above the norm and dryness of the soil.

If you grow monarda as a food supplement, then chemicals not worth handling

Monarda is good in the garden, but it should be protected from fungal diseases

Do not forget to water the monarda more often, then its flowers will delight you longer.

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