Wild Bergamot
Hairy lavender fireworks for the pollinator garden.
Scientific Name: Monarda fistulosa
Plant Type: Native Perennial
This native, classic prairie plant puts out 2-4' tall stems capped by puffs of shaggy tubular lavender-pink blooms in July through September. The whole plant smells divine; just crush a leaf and get that spicy, Earl Grey tea aroma. Birds, bees, and butterflies feast on it.
What gardeners are saying:
A true pollinator magnet: This is where you'll find hummingbirds, bumblebees, monarchs, and clearwing moths fighting for every last bloom.
Hands off: Deer and rabbits don't appreciate the aromatic foliage. Once established it’s fuss-free and rugged.
Hardier than concrete: Hardy in zones 3-9. Survives Alberta winters, clay soil, drought and heat.
Fantastic for naturalizing: Slowly spreads by rhizomes, forming colonies and becoming a valuable component of any meadow planting.
The gifts keep giving: Tea can be made from the leaves and it’s a traditional medicinal herb of Indigenous people.
The requirements:
Sun: Full sun to light part shade is best for good flower production and resistance to mildew.
Soil: This adaptable plant will tolerate anything you give it-clay, loam or sand-as long as it’s reasonably drained. Poor soil is fine.
Water: Low to moderate water. It’s drought tolerant when established but appreciate a bit of supplemental water in extreme conditions.
Tip for success: Circulation is key. Give plants space to grow so they don’t compete for air, and powdery mildew, which will attack if plants are stressed by drought and poor circulation, will be less likely to appear. Although powdery mildew is generally not harmful, you can remove the infected leaves if you are bothered by its appearance. Cut plants back by one third after flowering, or leave the seed heads on for winter bird feed.
The best situation: Native gardens, pollinator gardens, herb gardens, meadows, rain gardens, or for anyone who needs to plant something tough that smells good and benefits wildlife.
