Description
Scientific name: Monarda fistulosa
Range: Keweenaw native
Light: Full Sun, Partial Sun
Soil: Sand, Loam, Clay
Moisture: Dry, Medium, Moist
Benefits: Pollinators, Butterflies, Birds, Hummingbirds, Host Plant, Deer Resistant
Height: 2′-5′
Blooms: Jul, Aug, Sep
Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Color: Lavender
Spacing: 2′
Root: Rhizome
Wild Bergamot’s large and beautiful flowers are distinguished from other Monarda species by their colors of solid pink and lavender–mainly lavendar in the Keweenaw. The plant, a member of the mint family that typically grows two to four feet tall, is best grown in full or partial sun. The long bloom period provides continuity in the garden and a continuing source of food for many pollinators. Although not as susceptible to powdery mildew as other Monarda species, good air circulation helps to provide resistance. Dividing large plants every two to three years keeps them healthy and curbs a tendency to spread.
