(Monarda fistulosa) Perennial. Zones 3 – 9

Beautiful lavender, spicy scented flowers which attract many bees, butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden. Wild Bergamot has been used in North America for its medicinal properties for thousands of years.

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Growth Habit: Upright growth to 4 feet height with sturdy stems, oblong, serrated leaves, and round, shaggy flowers with small petals. Perennial in zones 3 – 9; hardy annual in cooler climates. Self seeds freely and spreads via rhizomes.

Sun Requirements: Full sun to part shade

Soil Preference: Average, moist, well drained soil

When to Plant: Sow seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last Spring frost OR direct seed outdoors in Spring or Summer, and no later than 2 months before first expected frost.

How to Plant: 

Direct sow: Sow seeds on soil surface and cover only very lightly with soil; seeds need light and moisture to germinate. Seeds should germinate in 14-21 days. Thin young plants 1-2 feet apart.

Transplant: Sow seeds on soil surface and cover only very lightly with soil; seeds need light and moisture to germinate. Seeds should germinate in 14-21 days. Transplant to individual containers when  true leaves appear. Transplant young seedlings outside in Spring and space 1-2 feet apart.

When to Harvest: Harvest leaves anytime; harvest flowers in second year, from Summer into Fall.

How to Harvest:  Harvest leaves before flowers open. For drying, harvest flowers when they fully open.

Uses: The spicy leaves and flowers of Wild Bergamot are edible and lovely steeped as tea. Wild Bergamot has many traditional medicinal uses. It is a nice cut flower and very attractive to pollinators, butterflies and hummingbird