Monarda didyma Scarlet Bergamot

Ohio Native Plant Natural Range

To view the natural range of Monarda didyma visit the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service website. Native Plant of the Year -LEAP (Lake Erie Allegheny Partnership for Biodiversity) - Native Plant of the Year 2014 -
Monarda didyma flowers are absolutely stunning
Monarda didyma


Cultivation Information Scarlet Bergamot


Height - 3 to 4 feetFlower Color - RedBlooms - May to OctoberSun- Sun - part shadeHardy Zone - 3 to 9
Soil - Moist to wet, fertile - grows naturally along sunny river banks
Susceptible to Powdery Mildew - To reduce increase air flow, grow in full sun, divide plants when colony become dense
Family - Lamiaceae- Mint Family
“I choose joy over despair. Not because I have my head in the sand, but because joy is what the earth give me daily and I must repay that gift” Robin Wall Kimmerer - Braiding Sweetgrass
This picture was taken by Roger Dahlin who lives in Onondaga County New York which neighbors Oswego County. Hence the name Oswego Tea

Wildlife Significance Scarlet Bergamot

Pollinated by - Ruby-throated Hummingbirds & butterflies mainly fritillaries
Nectar Attracts - Hummingbirds, native bees, bumble bees and Swallowtail butterflies
Not desirable to mammals - The aroma of this plant discourages mammals from consuming it. For more information Visit the Illinois Wildflower website
Propagation Notes Scarlet Bergamot
Resources State- No pre-treatment needed - I prefer to either sow Bergmot seeds outdoors in the fall or store them for 30 days in a cold/moist environment.
Established Plants - An established Scarlet Bergamot patch will reward you with young seedlings in the spring.
Scarlet Bergamot
Seed Provenance Monarda didyma
Amanda's Garden, Springwater, NY - 2013 - Nodding Onion Gardens -2014 to present