Monarda fistulosa

Also Known As

Bee Balm
Wild Bergamont

Plant type

perennial, aquatic

size

H: 2'-5'
W: 3'

planting zones

3a-8b

More Options

Monarda fistulosa plant details

Monarda fistulosa is a broadleaf deciduous perennial aquatic with green foliage. In summer lavender and purple flowers emerge. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with sun and even moisture - low water. Drought tolerant once established. Does well in rich and well-drained soil.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Monarda fistulosa

Plant type: perennial aquatic
Plant family: lamiaceae
Foliage: deciduous green
Mature size: 3 FT wide, 2 FT - 5 FT - tall
Flowers: lavender and purple blooms in summer
Uses: border plant, easy-to-grow, naturalizing

GROWING CONDITIONS for Monarda fistulosa

USDA Zones: 3a - 8b
Sun exposure: sun
Watering frequency: even moisture - low
Resistant to: deer
Soil needs: rich and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

Monarda fistulosa is a wonderful clump-forming wild bergamot or beebalm native to much of North America from BC to Quebec and south through nearly the entire US. It resembles the more commonly cultivated bee balms but with a daintier habit suitable for meadows and naturalistic plantings or for a less formal addition to a traditional border. The flowers are pink to lavender and are popular with bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies for their copious nectar. The plants are also a larval host for species of moth and butterfly. The foliage is aromatic and can be used in teas.

By: Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd.

The intricate lavender flowers of Bergamot attract a plethora of butterflies, and the strong stems are sometimes used by Indigo Buntings to build their nests. The fresh leaves can be used to brew a tasty, minty tea, and the seedheads are excellent in dried arrangements. Hardy to Zones 3 - 9.

By: Prairie Nursery

(Bee balm. Wild bergamot) An evergreen perennial, quickly forming dense clumps of sturdy stems, clothed in softly textured, broadly lance shaped, refreshingly mint scented leaves, each topped in early Summer by a 10cm whorl of furry, lilac pink, tubular, lipped flowers. Cut back to ground level in Autumn. The over wintering mounds of smaller leaves often take on various grey and purple hues, which I find most attractive.