Monarda fistulosa Wild Bergamot

Ohio Native Plant Natural Range

To view the natural range of Monarda fistulosa visit the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service website.
One huge bee with its head buried in Monarda fistulosa.
This fellow was so busy he didn't care that the camera moved in close
A Single pale purple Wild Bergamot Flower, it reminds me of what happens after your rub a balloon on your head. Your hair sticks up everywhere.
Even Wild Bergamot has "bad hair days"!


Cultivation Information Wild Bergamot

Height - 3 to 4 ftFlower Color - VioletBlooms - July - SeptemberSun - Full to filtered
Hardy Zone - 3 to 9Soil - Moist and fertilepH - 5.0 to 6.5
Family - Lamiaceae - Mint FamilyNeeds good circulation - plant 16 inches apart Over the Years - We have discovered that adding native plants to your yard/garden not only provides nourishment for native pollinators; we benefit as well. Native pollinators attract native insect predators whose responsibility it is to devour critters that are attacking our plants. These predators don’t discriminate if their dinner is on a zucchini plant or a lovely zinnia.
Wild Bergamot dried flower heads laying next to a quarter for reference.
Dried Wild Bergamot flower heads and seed
Two Giant Swallowtail Butterflies right next to each other on purple Wild Bergamot.
With so much goodness, how do these Swallowtails even know where to begin? By Roger Dahlin

Wildlife Significance Wild Bergamot

Nectar Source - For hummingbirds, butterflies/moths and skippers. Including Hermit sphinx, Fritillaries, Painted Lady, Cabbage White, Milberts's Tortoise Shell, Mourning Cloak, Eastern Swallowtail, Spring Azure, Great Spangled Fritillary, Red Admiral and bumble bees.
Oligolectic Bees - Are bees that are very particular as to which plant family they gather their nectar and pollen; so is the case with the small sweat bee - Dufourea monardae and the Monarda fisulosa.
Host Plant - Hermit sphinx (moth) caterpillar
Deer - Are not fond ofWild Bergamot or other plants in the the Lamiaceae - Mint Family
For more details on this plant visit the Illinois Wildflower siteFor detailed information visit the Illinois Wildflower site
Propagation Notes Wild Bergamot
Seed Stratification
Resources state - No pretreatment necessary. I like to either give Wild Bergamot seed 30 days cold/moist storage or sow them in the fall under a simple cold frame.
Five brown Monarda fistulosa flowers that are now brown and ready to collect seed
Keep an eye maturing Wild Bergamot seed. If you wait too long, they will be devoured visiting birds. Cover with an onion bag if you aren't able to get to collect them right away
Seed Provenance Monarda fistulosa
Greene County, Ohio, 2021. Nodding Onion Gardens - 2012 to present, Clyde, Ohio - 2018, Prairie Moon Nursery 2011