Family: Lamiaceae
Name: Monarda fistulosa
Bloom Time: July-September
Flower: Lavender
Soil Condition: Dry, moist, well drained
Light: Sun, partial sun
Height: 2-4' x 2-3'
Native Range: Eastern North America including Long Island, NY
Zone: 3-9
Photos: flower form, bumble bee and ants enjoying nectar (KMS Native Plants)
Wild bergamot is a great plant to attract more bees, butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden. All parts are edible. The leaves can be used to make tea and the flowers may be used as an edible garnish. Great plant for creating a cottage garden look as it will naturalize.
Maintenance: None necessary but you may deadhead the flowers to prolong bloom time. Prone to powdery mildew, but it is only a cosmetic issue.
Benefits: Nectar source, 3 specialist bees rely on wild bergamot, host plant to the orange mint moth, juglone (black walnut) tolerant, clay soil tolerant, tolerates drought
Fun Facts: 'fistulosa' means tubular, referring to the flower shape.
Companion Plants: Pycnanthemum muticum - blunt mountain mint, Asclepias tuberosa - butterflyweed, Schizachyrium scoparium - little blue stem, Achillea millefolium - common yarrow, Agastache foeniculum - anise hyssop, Rudbeckia fulgida var fulgida - gold coneflower, Coreopsis verticillata - tickseed, Heliopsis helianthoides - false sunflower
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