Monarda fistulosa

Common Names

Wild Bergamot, Bee Balm, American Wild Bergamot, Horsemint

Summary

Monarda fistulosa, commonly called wild bergamot, bee balm, or horse-mint, is a North American native herbaceous perennial in the mint family. It grows in dryish soils across prairies, dry rocky woods, glade margins, unplanted fields, and along roadsides, forming clumps 2–4 feet tall with square stems and aromatic gray-green leaves; lavender to pink/purple tubular flowers appear in dense, globular heads and are highly fragrant, attracting hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. Cultivation favors full sun to partial shade in well-drained soil, tolerating poor soils and a range of moisture, with hardiness in USDA zones 3–9. Plants spread by underground rhizomes and self-seed, benefiting from regular division every 2–3 years and spacing about 2–2.5 feet apart to promote air circulation and reduce powdery mildew. Deadheading extends bloom; propagation by seeds or cuttings is common. Uses include ornamental and native-pollinator plantings, herb gardens, and edible leaves for teas, with nectar attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds; the plant is deer and rabbit resistant.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

24-48 inches

Spread

24-36 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full Sun. Tolerates partial sun to partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained loamy soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil, preferably loamy; tolerates moisture from medium-wet to dry and avoids very wet soils.

Soil pH

6-8, Tolerates all pH levels

Bloom Color

Lavender to Pink, sometimes White

Bloom Time

Summer

Foliage Color

Gray-green

Fall Foliage Color

Green, Yellow, Red

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Fast

Seasons of Interest

Summer and Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division, Cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, other pollinators, and birds.