Description

MONARDA ‘Grape Gumball’ PP27498 – SUGAR BUZZ® Series. 20-24″ tall, 16-24″ spread, full sun-part shade, mid-late summer bloom. Petite, yet vibrant, 2-2 ½” fragrant flowers form a seamless layer of deep magenta-purple that nearly eclipses the dark green foliage. Perfect for patio containers and the middle of your sunny border. Displays above average resistance to powdery mildew. The flowers’ sweet nectar attracts scores of butterflies, hummingbirds and is bee friendly. Deer resistant. Zones 4-8. Potted in 3″ pot.

Monarda can be found naturally along riverbanks and enjoys this rich, organic, moist soil. However, it will grow in average soil as well. Full sun is best, but light shade is tolerated. Plants tend to spread more quickly in the shade, however. Most monardas multiply rapidly either by underground stems or self-sowing. Deadheading spent blooms will prolong the bloom time. Powdery mildew is a common fungal problem with monarda. Some varieties are more resistant to it than others. To prevent this fungus from appearing, large clumps should be thinned out so that the air circulates freely around them. The soil should also be kept consistently moist; dry soil promotes powdery mildew.