Lemon Mint (Monarda Citriodora) 120 seeds (#886)

Bedding plant, cottage gardens, herb gardens, native plant areas, prairies, roadsides or waste areas. Also effective in hummingbird or butterfly gardens. Leaves may be used to make herbal teas or may be added to pot-pourris.
Known by a number of common names, lemon beebalm is an aromatic winter annual with unusual, tuft-like, lavender to pink, whorled flower heads. Each whorl in the elongated spike is subtended by whitish or lavender, leaf-like bracts. Several stems grow from the base and are lined with pairs of lance-shaped leaves.
Horsemint has a distinctive citrus or lemony scent when the leaves are rubbed or crushed.
It is very easy to grow and often forms large colonies. Bees and butterflies are attacted to this plant.
Easily grown in average, dry to medium moisture soils in full sun to part shade. Prefers limestone-rich, rocky or sandy soils, but tolerates other soils. Prefers full sun. Plant seed in fall or early spring. This plant will remain in the garden from year to year by self-seeding. Plants may form large colonies in optimum growing conditions.
Approximately 120 seeds in 0,1 g packet.

Genus - Monarda
Species - Citriodora
Common name - Lemon Mint
Pre-Treatment - Not-required
Hardiness zones - 2 - 11
Height - 0,60 - 0,90 m
Spread - 0,20 - 0,30 m
Plant type - Perennial Herb
Exposure - Full Sun, partial shade
Growth rate - Fast
Soil PH - acid, neutral and basic (alkaline)
Soil type - Limestone-rich, rocky or sandy soils, but tolerates other soils
Water requirements - Average, high
Landscape uses - Wildflower meadow, Long-blooming, Shortgrass meadow, Easily grown, Blooms ornamental, Aromatic
Bloom season - May - August
Leaf / Flower color - Green / Lavender to pink to white

GERMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
Easily grown from seed.
Spread the seed evenly and rake into loose topsoil in fall or early spring. Supplemental watering is suggested if spring rains are poor.
Germination usually takes place within 10-40 days at +20C.
Provide additional water in May if necessary until the plants reach 25 cm tall.
The seed can also be sown in site in late summer in areas where the winters are not too severe and will produce larger plants.
Harvest the shoots with plenty of underground stem when they are about 8 - 10cm above the ground. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.