Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)

Other Names

Bee Balm
Horsemint

Habitat

Wildlife Value

Native?

Related Sites

MN DNR: Wild Bergamot

Wild Bergamot | Lake McCusick Trail, MN| View Enlarged Image

Bergamot is a hardy perrenial wildflower that flourished in the prairies that once covered Minnesota. They have single stems topped with clusters of red or purple tubes, each of which has a small, protruding stamen. It can be cultivated from seed or sedling, and is a great, colorful choice for butterfly gardens, and attracts many pollinators, including butterflies and bees.

The Native American tribes used Wild Bergamot to treat acne, colds, sore throat, headaches, bronchitis, and stomach aches. When flowering, it produces a sharp, minty odor that remains long after winter sets in and the plant dies. Its ground leaves are used to flavor tea. Though most of the specimens you will run into are only two to three feet tall, it can actually grow five feet or higher under the right conditions.

Multimedia:

Wild Bergamot | Lake McCusick Trail, MN

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