Wild Bergamot / Bee Balm

Monarda fistulosa

Lamiaceae

• Sun, part-shade
• Size: 3’ x 3’
• Drought Tolerant: Yes
• Evergreen: no
• Flower Color: pink/ white / purple (June - September)
• Wildlife value: pollinators, bees and hummingbirds

Clump-forming perennial with upright square stems. Thrives in well-drained soils from dry to medium moisture. Adaptable to most soil types and tolerates poor soils.

Fragrant lilac-pink to purple tubular flowers bloom in dense, globular pompom-like clusters from midsummer to early fall, held aloft by decorative whitish-pink bracts. Deep green aromatic leaves smell like oregano and provide a minty fragrance throughout the growing season. Foliage remains attractive and healthy through the season.

The aromatic leaves can be used to make medicinal tea for colds, flu, headaches, and digestive ailments. Natural source of thymol, the antiseptic found in modern mouthwash. Flowers are excellent for fresh or dried arrangements. A favorite of bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, providing critical nectar for many pollinators. Supports specialized native bees. Dead stems provide nesting sites for stem-nesting bees.

This can be used in pollinator gardens, herb gardens, prairie restoration, meadow plantings, perennial borders, or cottage gardens. Spreads by shallow rhizomes to form colonies where conditions are favorable. Plant where it can spread freely for best effect. .