Description
Monarda species include annual and perennial herbaceous plants. This plant, with showy summer-blooming pink to lavender flowers, is often used as a honey plant, medicinal plant, and garden ornamental.
Monarda fistulosa is an herbaceous perennial that grows from slender creeping rhizomes, thus commonly occurring in large clumps. The plants are typically up to 3 ft (0.9 m) tall, with a few erect branches. Its leaves are about 2-3 in (5,8 cm) long, lance-shaped, and toothed.
Its compact flower clusters are solitary at the ends of branches.Plant Specifications
| Common Name | Monarda fistulosa, wild bergamot, bee balm |
| Maximum Reachable Height | 2.00 to 4.00 feet |
| Flower Colour | Purple |
| Bloom Time | July to September |
| Difficulty Level | easy to grow |
Planting and care
Give plants a thick mulch, especially in northern growing areas.
Bergamot care
Best grown in dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade.
| Sunlight | Full sun to part shade |
| Watering | Dry to medium |
| Soil | well-drained soil |
| Temperature | 35d centigrade |
| Fertilizer | Apply any organic fertilizer |
Bergamot special feature
Provides color and contrast for the herb garden, wild garden, native plant garden, meadow or naturalized area.
Bergamot uses
Ornamental Use:
- This Plant is often used as a honey plant, medicinal plant, and garden ornamental
Medicinal Use:
- Bergamot does have medicinal uses
- It induces perspiration, lowers fevers, and through its carminative action, aids digestion
- It has been used for colds, fevers, headaches, gastric disorders such as flatulence, nausea and vomiting
- Externally, the fresh leaves are applied to pimples and other skin eruptions
Culinary Use:
- All parts of the plant make a delicious tea