← Bedfellow

Wild Bergamot

Monarda fistulosa

Also known as: Bee Balm

Mint-family aromatic. Powdery mildew possible in humid sites. Leaves and flowers are edible raw or cooked, with a strong oregano-like flavor used fresh or dried as a seasoning and tea.

Family

Lamiaceae

Type

shrub

Lifespan

perennial

Height

2–4 ft

Spacing

2–3 ft apart

Light

sun, part shade

Soil moisture

dry, moist

Soil pH

acidic, neutral, alkaline

Bloom

May, June, July, August, September

Bloom colors

white, pink, purple

Wildlife value

songbirds, butterflies, hummingbirds, pollinators

Caterpillar hosts

~7 butterfly & moth species

Landscape uses

border, erosion control, naturalizing

Native states

AL, AR, AZ, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WI, WV, WY