Monarda Seeds 'Didyma Panorama Red'

• Shaggy crimson flowers on tall stems
• Very popular with bees
• Spicy fragrance
• Good cut flower

Monarda ‘Panorama Red Shades’ flowers prolifically in summer, producing abundant shaggy crimson blooms on tall stems. Bees simply adore them. Both flowers and foliage have a delicious spicy, summery fragrance, and the leaves can be used to make potpourri while the flowers are ideal for cutting.

Sow indoors

Sow on the surface of lightly firmed, moist seed compost in pots or trays and cover with a fine sprinkling of compost. Place in a propagator or seal container inside a polythene bag and keep at 20°C. Keep the surface of the compost moist but not waterlogged; germination takes 2-4 weeks. When seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant into 8cm pots and grow on in cooler conditions.

Plant out

Indoor-sown plants should be slowly acclimatised to outdoor conditions before planting out when the danger of frost has passed. Choose a well-drained, sunny position.

Sow outdoors

Sow in late summer or early autumn directly into their final position, in well-prepared soil in a sunny spot. Thin out as the seedlings develop as Monardas do not like to be overcrowded. Plant in sun or light shade in well-drained soil.

Aftercare

Avoid allowing plants to dry out in summer to reduce the risk of mildew. Divide large clumps every 3 years or so.