As far as telling Monarda 'Jacob Cline' and 'Gardenview Scarlet' apart, three things from my own experience:

1. If one of them develops any mildew, it is probably 'Gardenview Scarlet';
'J.C.' has been almost completely mildew-free in my gar*den;
2. 'Gardenview Scarlet' will be shorter (2'-3'), while the 'J.C.' will easily soar
to 4'-5';
3. Here in my gar*den, the 'J.C.' tends to bloom a week or two longer.

The only other Monarda that I've tried is M. 'Marshall's Delight', and what a
beauty! But for some unknown reason, it failed to winter over one year, and
I've never gotten around to replacing it - thanks for reminding me what a great plant it was !

Carl

I have Jacob and it is tall in my garden, too.

Other favorites include 'Raspberry Wine' and 'Blue Stocking'. I don't like the short pink variety that I tried.

There is an interesting difference between the Raspberry W. and the Blue S. The Raspberry has thick stems, so it isn't nearly has attractive after deadheading as the Blue, with thin stems. So, I have learned to sow zinnia seeds around the Raspberry to hide the foliage going into midsummer. Otherwise, both are stellar performers.

I love the colors of both. I use these with purple coneflowers and agastache.

Cameron

I've had Blue Stocking for 3 years and it seems to be declining in size. I may have to dig it up, divide it, and replant in new soil. But I do love the color.

I just got Petite Delight and Raspberry Wine in trades last year and both bloomed until frost once they started blooming. No mildew on either one. PD makes an excellent front-of-the-border plant.

Linda

'Coral Reef' is a great mid-sized (90cm or 3') form with lots of large, pinkish-red flowers. No mildew here.

I appreciate all the information. I spent most of yesterday searching the web and with the info provided here, I ordered three to try this year, Blue Stocking, Purple Rooster and Marshall's Delight. Any suggestions on a good white monarda? I'm not really a big fan of white flowers, but they make the "colors" pop when planted nearby.
Thanks
Sandy

Marshall's Delight (with a stray cat in there- where'd that come from?!) and Raspberry Wine- below. I don't get mildew, but my spaces are VERY open & breezy all the time. I haven't gotten so creative as to put anything with my RW yet, either other than a too-short "frost" sedum and a gorgeous yellow daylily that makes a nice combo with it (on the other side that you can't see from this pic)

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Raspberry Wine (left) and Blue Stocking (right) that I planted in the big gardens for a meadow look.

Below: The result of companions in a design in my cottage garden using Raspberry Wine with echinacea 'Prairie Splendor' and Agastache 'Purple Haze':

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My favorite monardas are 'Jacob Cline' and 'Blue Stocking'.
Here's a picture of 'Blue Stocking' with 'Indian Summer' rudbeckia and feverfew:

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Sandy -

Now Cameron has a really interesting combination there with the Monarda
and the purple Echinacea. . .how about substituting E. "White Swan" to get
the "pop" you're looking for?

Carl

Nice photos. I can't wait to see these now. I also had to order Coral Reef. Carl, I like the idea of using a white cone flower. I'll have to think about that.
Thanks

Hey, has anyone ever tried growing petite wonder or petite delight. I like monarda, but sometimes I wish there was a variety that was a little bit shorter and more compact. I've seen pictures of petite wonder and petite delight, and they seem to be just that.

raspberry wine is good, with lots of side blooms when you dead head the old flowers.
Another gardener has Mahogany. It really does have a brownish red cast. It's hard to catch the color in a photograph, I've noticed. I'm pretty sure a parent is raspberry wine, so it has good mildew resistance.
I've only found it at Lazy s nursery.
MT

Perennialfan273, there are now some medium height monardas on the market. Two newer ones are Grand Marshall and Grand Parade, growing from 18-24". Scroll down the link below for pics. and details. I have never had any luck with Petite Wonder or Petite Delight. They get mildew and die out on me. I grow both Jacob Cline and Gardenview Scarlet. JC is both much taller and has somewhat larger flowers than GS, but they have similar bright scarlet colour and no mildew.

Here is a link that might be useful: medium height monardas

Where are you all ordering your monarda's from? Do you mind sharing that information? Or are you purchasing them from local garden center or nursery?

Perennialfan - I have Petite Delight. It is barely noticeable in my large garden because it is so short. It would probably be fine up close in a smaller setting or in a container.

Pippi - I am pretty sure that I got all of my monarda varieties at local nurseries. Here in North Carolina, I am close to a lot of excellent sources. I order seeds online, but rarely plants. I have had good results with Bluestone and WWF with mail-order, but I was buying plants that could not be found here. I recently ordered tropical plants from DoLeaf. The ginger and banana arrived in excellent condition.