Monarda plant named ‘Leading Lady Plum’

Abstract

The new and distinct cultivar of ornamental cultivar of ornamental bee balm plant named Monarda ‘Leading Lady Plum’ has short, compact, winter-hardy, clumping habit, dark green, and powdery mildew tolerant foliage. The magenta-purple flowers are at least two weeks earlier than Monarda didyma cultivars accented by rows of darker reddish-purple spots and continue for 5 to 8 weeks with branched stems developing above the terminal flower branches. The verticillasters are accented by greyed-purple bracts and sepals.

I claim:  
     
       1. A new and distinct cultivar of ornamental Bee balm plant,  Monarda  ‘Leading Lady Plum’, as herein described and illustrated, with compact habit, dark green foliage, earlier flowering with numerous magenta-purple flowers with darker reddish-purple spotting and tolerant to powdery mildew especially suitable as a potted plant, for the garden, patio, and for cut flower arrangements.