Monkswort: A Modest European Wildflower for North American Gardens
If you’re looking for a low-key addition to your garden that won’t steal the spotlight but will quietly do its job, monkswort (Nonea) might just be your plant. This unassuming European native has found its way to North America, where it’s settled in quite comfortably across several states and provinces.
What Exactly Is Monkswort?
Monkswort is a herbaceous plant that falls into the forb category – think of it as a flowering plant that never develops woody stems like shrubs or trees. It’s what botanists call an annual or biennial, meaning it completes its life cycle in one to two years before starting fresh from seed. Don’t expect towering heights here; this is a ground-hugging plant that prefers to keep things modest.
Where You’ll Find Monkswort Growing Wild
Originally from the Mediterranean region and parts of Europe and Asia, monkswort has established itself as a non-native resident in several North American locations. You can find it growing wild in Alberta and Quebec in Canada, as well as in Kentucky, Maine, New York, and Pennsylvania in the United States. It’s proven quite adaptable to reproducing and persisting on its own in these areas.
The Look and Feel of Monkswort
If you’re expecting showstopper blooms, you might want to look elsewhere. Monkswort produces small blue to purple flowers that are more charming than spectacular. The plant has a somewhat hairy texture to its foliage, giving it a soft, fuzzy appearance that some gardeners find endearing. It’s the kind of plant that grows on you – literally and figuratively – as it tends to self-seed and spread naturally.
Why You Might Want Monkswort in Your Garden
Here are some reasons gardeners appreciate this understated plant:
- Low maintenance once established
- Attracts small pollinators like bees
- Self-seeds readily, providing natural continuity
- Works well in naturalized or informal garden settings
- Tolerates a range of growing conditions
Growing Conditions and Care
Monkswort is refreshingly undemanding when it comes to care. It thrives in well-drained soils and can handle everything from full sun to partial shade. This adaptability makes it suitable for USDA hardiness zones 3 through 8, which explains its successful establishment across such varied climates.
For planting and care, keep these tips in mind:
- Plant in well-draining soil – it doesn’t like wet feet
- Choose a sunny to partially shaded location
- Water during establishment, then let natural rainfall take over
- Allow some plants to go to seed if you want it to naturalize
- Deadhead spent flowers if you want to prevent self-seeding
Is Monkswort Right for Your Garden?
Monkswort works best in informal gardens, wildflower meadows, or naturalized areas where its modest appearance and self-seeding habit are assets rather than drawbacks. It’s not the plant for formal borders or high-maintenance landscape designs.
Since monkswort is non-native to North America, you might also consider native alternatives that provide similar benefits while supporting local ecosystems. Native options like wild bergamot, New England aster, or regional wildflowers often offer more substantial benefits to local wildlife and pollinators.
The Bottom Line
Monkswort is a perfectly fine plant that won’t cause problems in your garden, but it won’t necessarily solve them either. It’s reliable, undemanding, and quietly attractive in its own way. Whether you choose to grow it might depend on your gardening philosophy and whether you prefer supporting native plants or don’t mind welcoming well-behaved non-native species into your landscape.
If you do decide to give monkswort a try, you’ll likely find it to be a pleasant, if unremarkable, garden companion that asks for little and delivers steady, modest results year after year.
