The Indian nettle is a perennial that enchants every gardener with its appearance. So here are some Indian nettle varieties and everything about location and care.
Indian nettle (Monarda didyma), also known as bee balm, is a beautiful summer bloomer. The foliage already has an intoxicating, peppermint scent in spring, which attracts butterflies in droves, but also bees, among other things. This is also the reason why the plant is popularly referred to as bee balm or horse mint. The actual reason for the name, however, is that the plant was once planted by an Indian tribe exclusively for the preparation of tea.
You can now buy the most popular varieties of Indian nettle in every garden store. You can find out how these are planted and cared for here.
Various Indian nettle varieties presented
The Indian nettle, which can grow up to 80 centimeters high depending on the variety, is now available in specialist garden shops with different colored flowers. Here you will find, among other things:
- Head of fire - red blossom
- Mahogany - light red blossom
- Cambridge Scarlet
- Prairie Brand - Salmon Red Blossom
- Beauty of Cobham - light pink bloom
- Croftway Pink - pink blossom
- Aquarius - blue-violet flower
- Scorpio - Purple-Purple Flower
- Snow Cloud/Snow White - white blossom
- Thundercloud - dark pink flower
- Dwarf Indian nettle - pink-purple flower
The right choice of location for the Indian nettle
The hardy Indian nettle loves full sun, but also gets along well with a light penumbra. You should also plant the Indian nettle in a nutrient-rich, peat-rich soil that has sufficient moisture but does not form waterlogging.
» Tip:
Before planting, you should enrich the soil with compost, as this makes it much easier for the Indian nettle to grow.
Proper care of Indian nettle
Casting:
From the end of June to Septemberthe Indian nettle tirelessly ignites its blossom fireworks every year. However, you also need to keep the plant moist all the time - especially during longer periods of drought.
Promote flowering:
If you remove faded flowers immediately, you can encourage flowering and significantly increase the number of flowers.
Pruning and wintering:
In autumn you have to cut back the Indian nettle completely and protect it with a little brushwood during the first few years throughout the winter. From the fourth year of life, the perennial can then be classified as fully winter hardy.
Propagation:
Perennial plants can be divided with a spade in spring and thus multiplied.
Prevent slug infestation:
In addition, the Indian nettle is often visited by snails in spring, from which you must protect them. You can find tips on this in our article Preventing snails - 3 tips.
Control powdery mildew:
You must also make sure that the Indian nettle is not attacked by powdery mildew, as this will cause it to die. However, if you discover a powdery mildew infestation early on, you can usually save the perennial with an appropriate fungicide.