Three Acre Tablea garden, a kitchen, a good excuse to gather
Monarda fistulosa
Plate — illustration to come
Native · New Jersey

Wild Bergamot

Monarda fistulosa

Perennial flower

The lavender bee balm — cousin of the garden Monarda but tougher, drier, and more disease-resistant. Whorled tufts of dusty-lavender bloom on square stems above aromatic foliage that smells like Earl Grey when you brush it.

At a glance

The spec sheet.

Habitat
Fields, thickets, dry woodland edges, roadside meadows
Bloom time
June – August
Sun
Full sun to part sun
Soil
Average to dry; well-drained
Moisture
Medium to dry — hates wet feet
Height
2–4 feet
For the wildlife

What it attracts.

The species that visit, feed on, or depend on this plant — and how they use it.

  • Bumblebees

    Nectar source

    Heavy use

  • Ruby-throated hummingbird

    Nectar source

    Tubular flowers ideal for long tongues

  • Hawk moths & clearwing moths

    Nectar source

    Also visits at dusk

  • Long-tongued butterflies

    Nectar source

Notes on growing

Give it air and full sun to avoid powdery mildew. Cut back by a third in early summer for a bushier plant. Naturalizes politely by rhizome — divide every few years.

Sources

Xerces Society · Jersey-Friendly Yards · Native Plant Society of NJ

Blooms with

Other natives in bloom now.