(Monarda fistulosa ‘Wild’)

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Wild Bergamot is a native, perennial, clump-forming flower naturally found growing in dry, rocky woods and prairies across the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 2-3' and features a square-like stem, aromatic greenish-gray leaves, and globular clusters of two-lipped lavender flowers. This plant attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, is edible and medicinal, is used as a cut flower, is drought tolerant, is used to flavor perfumes, makes insect repellents and essential oils, is resistant to deer, and self-sows!

  • General Information
  • Germination
  • Seedlings
  • Harvesting
  • Seed Saving
  • Culinary
  • Medicinal
  • Fragrance
  • Companion Planting
  • Other Uses
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Family: Lamiaceae

Genus: Monarda

Species: fistulosa

Variety: Wild Bergamot

Also Known As: Horsemint.

Native Range: Alabama, Alberta, Arizona, Arkansas, British Columbia, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Manitoba, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mexico Northeast, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Québec, Rhode I., Saskatchewan, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

Ease of Growing: Easy

Grown as: Perennial
 
Maturity (Blooms): July to September

Light: Full Sun To Part Shade

Water: Dry to medium

Soil Moisture: Dry to medium moisture, well-drained

Attracts Beneficial Insects?: Yes. Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds and is resistant to Deer.

Containers: Yes. If you want to grow bergamot in a container, you can prepare a well-drained soil mixture for them to grow in. A mixture of perlite, peat moss, dry compost, vermiculite and some manure for nutrition will be perfect. Select a place in your garden for the container where there is full sun or partial shade.

Maintenance: Medium

Height: 24-48"
 
Spacing: 24-36"

Sow Depth: 1/8"
 
USDA Zone: 3a-9b

Produces: a square like stem, aromatic greenish gray leaves, and globular clusters of two-lipped lavender flowers.

Garden Uses: Provides color and contrast for the herb garden, wild garden, native plant garden, meadow or naturalized area. May be used in the perennial border, but is simply a less colorful selection than the similar-in-appearance Monarda didyma and its many cultivars (the bee balms).
No pre-treatment needed. Sow seeds during January in 2" Soil Blocks, placed in a cool location. The seeds should germinate in one to two weeks. Seedlings will need a starter fertilizer solution for up to seven weeks, at which time you can transplant them into 3-inch pots. Water and fertilize the seedlings regularly, then plant in the garden 24-36" apart when the roots fill the container.
Wild bergamot prefers full sun but will tolerate light shade. However, if it doesn't get enough sunlight, it may not flower as much. Wild bergamot grows best in a moist, rich loam with a pH between 6 and 8, although loam soils may cause the plant to flop around during the growing season. It can actually tolerate almost any soil condition, from clay to rocky to nutritionally deficient soil, as long as it's well drained. Bergamot doesn't do well during flooding. The plant does tolerate mild drought, although the lower leaves will turn yellow and drop off. To control aggressive growth, divide large plants every two to three years.
Flower Heads:
1. Cut off bergamot flower heads when they bloom in early to late summer using garden shears or a sharp knife. Make the cut just below the base of each flower head.
2. Inspect the flowers for and remove any insects or debris.
3. Gather the flower heads into small bundles, then put each bundle in a paper bag.
4. Put the bags in well-ventilated area to allow the flowers to dry.

Leaves:
Cut off bergamot leaves as needed throughout the growing season. The leaves can be used fresh or dried for later use.

Warning: If not dried properly, harvested bergamot may develop mold. Don't keep your bergamot in a damp area or a room without adequate ventilation.
1. Allow Wild Bergamot flowers to bloom and remain on the plant if you want to harvest seeds. When the flowers produce seeds, cut off the seed heads and lay them on a tray to dry for a few days.
2. Put the harvested flower heads in a paper bag and shake to separate the seeds from the heads.
3. Run the seeds through a sieve to separate them from the chaff. Keep the seeds stored in a sealed container or bag with a small amount of moist peat moss or sand.
4. Store fresh seeds in the refrigerator.
Wild Bergamot leaves are boiled for tea, used for seasoning, and chewed raw or dried. It also produces edible flowers. ​

Leaves: raw or cooked. The entire plant above ground level can be used as a potherb, though it is rather aromatic. It is also used as a flavoring in salads and cooked foods. The fresh or dried leaves are brewed into a refreshing aromatic tea.

Flowers: The flowers make an attractive edible garnish in salads. 
Bergamot was often employed medicinally by several native North American Indian tribes who used it to treat a variety of complaints, but especially those connected with the digestive system. It is still sometimes used in modern herbalism. The leaves and flowering stems are carminative, diaphoretic, diuretic and stimulant. An infusion is used internally in the treatment of colds, catarrh, headaches, gastric disorders, aching kidneys, to reduce low fevers and soothe sore throats. Externally, it is applied as a poultice to skin eruptions, cuts etc and as a wash for sore eyes. The leaves can be harvested before the plant flowers, or they can be harvested with the flowering stems. They can be used fresh or dried. The plant contains the essential oil "bergamot oil" which can be inhaled to treat bronchial complaints. The leaves also contain "thymol", an essential oil that can be used to expel gas from the digestive tract.
Project Purity Seeds can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
The fragrant leaves can be used for perfume. ​

Companion Planting

Hummingbird Garden Plants: Beragmot attracts hummingbirds with its red and pink blossoms and its tubular flowers that are naturally suited for a hummingbird's long beak. Other similar flowers include Western columbine (Aquilegia formosa), with red and yellow flowers, or silver sage (Salvia argentea), with white flowers tinged with red. Both companions also thrive in full sun or partial shade in USDA plant hardiness zones 5b through 10b.

Herbs: As a member of the mint family, bergamot leaves have a minty smell and make a pleasant, herbal tea. Bergamot adds color and height to an herb garden and should be planted near the center of the garden surrounded by your preference of shorter herbs grown as annuals, such as basil, thyme, chives and parsley. Add a perennial herb such as rosemary in USDA plant hardiness zones 7a through 11 for year-round interest in the garden bed.

Colors: Also grown in full sun in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 through 11, bright yellow daylilies would work well planted in the same garden bed with the warm colors of bergamot. For a contrasting accent, midnight blue agapanthus (Agapanthus x "Monmid") adds the cool-blue color in USDA plant hardiness zones 7b through 11.

Shapes: As a 6- to 8-inch ground cover growing around the base of bergamot, the light green leaves and multiple flowers of dwarf annual phlox (Phlox drummondii) thrive in USDA plant hardiness zones 5a through 11 and come in a variety of colors. The blue-gray leaves of the perennial blue oat grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens) contrast nicely in both shape and color with bergamot. Blue oat grass thrives in USDA plant hardiness zones 5b through 10b.

Problems

Powdery mildew can be a significant problem with the monardas, particularly in crowded gardens with poor air circulation. This species has good mildew resistance, however. Rust can also be a problem.
The leaves have been used as an insect repellent.

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