Wild Bergamot (Bee Balm)
Monarda fistulosa
Plant Details
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 3a-9b Find Your Zone
Plant Type: Herbaceous Perennial
Height at Maturity: 2-4′
Width at Maturity: 2-3′
Spacing: 2′ for mass planting, 6′ for space between plants
Spacing: 2′ for mass planting, 6′ for space between plants
Growth Habit / Form: Upright
Growth Rate: Moderate
Flower Color: Purple and Pink Shades
Flower Size: 2-4″
Flowering Period: Late Spring or Early Summer thru Late Summer to Early Fall
Flower Type: Tubular, two-lipped
Fragrant Flowers: Yes
Foliage Color: Green
Fragrant Foliage: Yes, minty fragrance
Berries: No
Berry Color: No
Sun Needs: Full Sun to Part Shade, morning sun helps to dry dew from the leaves to avoid mildew
Water Needs: Average
Soil Type: Clay (Amended), Loam, Sand (Amended), Silt
Soil Moisture / Drainage: Consistently Moist To Wet or Dry when established
Soil pH: 6.5 to 7.5 (Slightly Acid to Slightly Alkaline)
Maintenance / Care: Low
Attracts: Visual Attention, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Birds
Resistances: Deer, Disease, Insect, Wet Soil
Description
Looking to help save the bees and add beauty color to your garden? it doesn’t get much better than Wild Bergamont, our North American native Bee Balm. We love this plant for it’s unique and lovely soft lavender to pink blooms that look like pompoms and its fragrant foliage that has a distinct, minty aroma. The nectar-rich flowers are a favorite of butterflies, bees and hummingbirds which feed throughout summer from the tube-like structure of its petals, and are also great for cutting and use in fresh or dried flower arrangements. Very adaptable and easy to grow, Wild Bergamont is not finicky about soil type and will thrive in consistently moist to dry soils. A colorful and resourceful addition to the perennial or wildflower garden.
Though you may have never seen it growing in the wild, Wild Bergamont is native to most of the continental states and is used to make mint tea and is often cited for its historical medicinal applications among indigenous peoples. These include poultices for boils and lacerations, as well as tea infusions for headaches, indigestion and colds and flu. That said, always do your own research before using any plant or plant part for medicinal purposes.
Landscape & Garden Uses
Growing 2 to 4 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide, Wild Bergamot Bee Balm is ideal for use as a specimen in smaller garden spaces or in groupings in perennial or meadow gardens or behind low growing shrubs in landscape borders. A fine addition to butterfly and pollinator gardens, cut flower gardens, fragrance gardens, native gardens, purple theme gardens and consistently moist bog and meadow gardens.
Suggested Spacing: 2 feet apart for groupings; 6′ or more apart for space between plants
Growing Preferences
Wild Bergamot Bee Balm is easy to grow in a consistently moist to dry, humusy and fertile soil. It thrives in full to mostly sun however tolerates some light afternoon shade. Morning sun is suggested in order to dry dew from the leaves.
Plant Long & Prosper!
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