Wild Bergamot

Monarda fitulosa

Wild Bergamot is a Monarda species in the mint family boasting lovely lavender purple flowers that are a favourite amongst many pollinators including native bees, bumblebees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Very easy to grow, this plant is a hit in any garden. Allow for large drifts for a bigger visual impact and better beacon to attract all those pollinators!

Thanks for it’s scented foliage, Scarlet Bee Balm is usually ignored by herbivores such as deer and rabbits.

Being a member of the mint family, Wild Bergamot spreads by runners forming stunning colonies. I have not found it to be overly aggressive in my gardens and is easy to reign in by lifting runners (close to the soil surface) and cutting them back, or re-routing them back into the patch. As with many of the Monardas, Wild Bergamot can be susceptible to powdery mildew, but it will not harm the plant.

Traditional uses for the this plant, along with others in the Monarda family, include teas, herbal remedies for bee sings, etc.