Indian nettle: location, care and propagation

The perennial Indian nettle is an integral part of the repertoire of bee-friendly perennials. With us you will learn everything about the choice of variety, planting and care of the Indian nettle.

The Indian nettle (Monarda) offers not only colorful flowers and fragrant foliage but also plenty of food for bees and other insects. We present the long-lived flowering perennial and give tips on planting, caring for and using the Indian nettle.

Indian nettle: flower, properties and origin

The Indian nettle belongs to the mint family (Lamiaceae) and originally comes from North America. The locals used wild Indian nettle to make what is known as Oswegotee. In addition to monard, it is also called bee balm and horse balm or, in the case of golden balm (

Monarda didyma) called bergamot Indian nettle. With the real one bergamot (Citrus bergamia) it is not related, but the leaves of the bee balm smell similarly citrusy and fruity.

The perennial, bushy growing and sometimes suckering perennial forms many unbranched, quadrangular stems with hairy, lanceolate and serrate at the leaf margin, decussate Scroll. From June, depending on the variety, the long flowering period of the Indian nettle begins, which can last until October. In dense whorls, many individual labiate flowers sit together as heads, forming a pseudo-flower with a collar of bracts. The growth height of the Indian nettle is 40 - 150 cm depending on the variety and species. The flowers of the Indian nettle can be white, pink, salmon pink, purple or red in colour. The long-lasting blossoms attract numerous bees and other pollinators to the colorful Indian nettles throughout the summer. After pollination, inconspicuous, small seeds, so-called Klaus fruits, form.

The most beautiful types and varieties

Most of the offered Indian nettle varieties are Monarda didyma x fistulosa hybrids. In addition, there are rarely pure species to buy, such as bee balm (Monarda didyma), which is also known as the scarlet monard. Below we present the most beautiful Monarda-Species and varieties for the garden.

• 'Beauty of Cobham': Variety with contrasting flowers in soft pink with dark purple-red bracts; the variety that originated in England is between 80 and 100 cm high.
• 'Bee Happy': Indian nettle with compact growth up to 60 cm in height; the variety, which is only a few years old, not only inspires bees with magenta-colored flowers and aromatically scented foliage.
• 'Cambridge Scarlets': Indian nettle with a growth height of 80 – 100 cm and scarlet flowers; the American breed from 1913 grows less vigorously and also thrives in drier soil than other varieties.

• 'fireball': Indian nettle of the species Monarda didyma with very compact growth up to 40 cm; the bright red flowers are particularly effective in window boxes or as a group in a perennial border.
• 'thundercloud': bright crimson flowers, even the bracts are pink in color; the heyday of the up to 100 cm high Indian nettle 'Gewitterwolke' is between July and August.
• 'Dawn': Variety with salmon-red flowers and a growth height of up to 100 cm; blooms between July and September.
• 'Petite Delight': Only about 25 - 30 cm high dwarf Indian nettle of the species Monarda didyma with pink to purple flowers; it can spread by runners.
• 'Pink Lace': Indian nettle with compact growth up to 40 cm and therefore also ideal for the balcony or terrace; it forms numerous pink flowers between July and September.
• 'prairie night': Purple-purple flowers between July and September; the broad, bushy, runner-forming perennial can grow up to 130 cm high.
• 'Snow White': White Indian nettle with a growth height of up to 100 cm; the flowering period extends from July to September.

• 'Sugar Lace': Indian nettle with a height of 50 – 70 cm and numerous pink flowers; The reddish-green leaves of the compact variety are particularly attractive.
• ‘Bee Balm‘ (Monarda didyma): Archetype of the Monard, also known as the scarlet Indian nettle; it is also used in folk medicine and as a tea plant.
• ‘Lemon Monarde‘ (Monarda citriodora): Also known as lemon balm, which is usually only cultivated in Germany as an annual summer flower and herb because of its heat requirements; the aromatic lemon aroma of the leaves is used for teas.
• 'bluestocking': Deep violet flowers and strong growth up to 120 cm; the variety, which is nevertheless stable, flowers between August and September.

Plant Indian nettle: location and procedure

Indian nettles are usually propagated vegetatively by division and cuttings and are thus offered as young perennials. However, some Indian nettles are propagated by sowing. Cultivation takes place in spring from the end of February on a bright window sill or alternatively from mid-May as direct sowing outdoors. The seeds belong to the light germs, which is why they should not be covered with soil. At 15 - 20 °C and a good water supply, the seed will germinate after one to two weeks. A nutrient-poor potting soil, like ours Plantura Organic Herb & Seed Soil, supports germination and root formation. After about four to six weeks, the seedlings can be pricked out and transplanted into nutrient-rich soil.

tip: Snails avoid the aromatic perennials, which is why no protection is necessary.

The ideal location for Indian nettles is on nutrient-rich, humus-rich soil with good water storage capacity and in a sunny to partially shaded location. Indian nettles are better planted in spring than in late autumn, as the perennials are vulnerable to frost in the first year. Young plants should not be planted outside until mid-May after the ice saints. The planting distance for Indian nettles should be at least 50 cm, and more for vigorous and bushy varieties. They are often placed in small groups of three to a maximum of five plants and fit in very well speedwell (Veronica), coneflower (Rudbeckia), scabioses (scabiosa) or various grasses. For pot culture, but also for planting Indian nettles in the garden, we recommend a high-quality potting soil, such as ours, to improve the soil Plantura organic potting soil. The peat-free and sustainably produced plant substrate increases water storage thanks to its compost content and supports soil life. For example, soil that is too heavy or sandy can be positively influenced.

tip: In order to cultivate Indian nettles in a pot, the planter should initially hold at least 10 - 15 liters of soil and have good drainage. A 5 - 10 cm high drainage layer of sand, gravel and expanded clay prevents waterlogging and root rot. Then fill in a high-quality, nutrient-rich potting soil and place your Monard in the pot.

Care of Indian nettle

When caring for Indian nettles, the focus is primarily on watering and cutting. We present the most important care measures and give tips on when and how to carry them out.

Cut, fertilize and water

Most Monarde cultivars are sensitive to drought, especially shortly after planting. Indian nettles should therefore be watered regularly in summer.

Fertilization is only necessary in the spring for new growth, because the plants feed on a dose of mature compost or granular fertilizer all year round. We recommend using a mostly organic slow release fertilizer like ours Plantura organic flower fertilizer, which can also be used for Indian nettles in the bucket and when repotting. The resource-friendly and completely animal-free fertilizer granulate ensures long-lasting flowering and healthy plants thanks to its special composition. Work the fertilizer into the soil after application. Soil organisms release the nutrients contained slowly and gently for plants and the environment over the course of weeks.

During the flowering period, you can regularly cut off the faded parts of the Indian nettles. After flowering, the Indian nettle is cut back completely a hand's breadth high. Indian nettles should be rejuvenated by division about every five years. To do this, use a sharp spade to cut off a piece of the existing rootstock in autumn or early spring. You can move this to a new, suitable location.

Powdery mildew on the Indian nettle: what to do?

The wrong location is usually to blame when the Indian nettle mildew gets. It is the powdery mildew that affects the perennials. The plants stand on soil that is too dry or are planted too close together, making it difficult for them to dry off when there is dew or after rain. A change of location or the thinning out of perennials that have become too large by division can counteract powdery mildew.

Is the Indian nettle hardy?

After the timely pruning in autumn, the Indian nettle is hardy to below -30 °C. The perennials therefore usually do not need any special winter protection, a layer of leaves is sufficient. If the Indian nettles overwinter in the pot, they should be placed in a frost-free place or wrapped up well with the help of jute, needle branches or fleece.

propagation

The easiest and fastest method of propagating Indian nettles is division. The existing stock is divided into pieces that are not too small, which are then potted or transferred to a new bed and soon form an independent plant there. Some varieties can also be propagated true to the variety by sowing, including in particular the archetypes of the lemon Indian nettle and the bee balm. To do this, they are not cut back after they have faded, but rather the seed heads are allowed to mature. The seeds of the Indian nettle should only be collected when the seed pods have turned brown and dry. At best, separate the seed heads in the morning and let them dry indoors in a dry place at room temperature for some time. The seeds of the Indian nettle usually fall out of the seed heads by themselves and can now be packed separately and stored in a dry, cool and dark place.

Is Indian nettle poisonous or edible?

Indian nettle is not poisonous, neither for humans nor for domestic animals. Its leaves and flowers can be eaten fresh or dried.

effect and use

Indian nettle leaves and flowers can be used fresh or dried. The bergamot Indian nettle and the lemon balm taste particularly aromatic. Indian nettle tea is primarily enjoyed for its bergamot-like aroma, but it also supports digestion.

In addition to the Indian nettle, there are numerous others bee-friendly perennials. We present our top 10.