Wild Bergamot

Monarda fistulosa

purple skinny petals of the wild bergamot attracting a bee
“04019 Bumblebee on Bee Balm” by Dave Lage, via Flickr.  CC BY-SA 2.0
large plant of wild bergamot with spotted purple flowers
“Wild Bergamot” by Vincent Parsons, via Flickr. CC BY-NC 2.0.

Ecological Benefits: Attract pollinators such as specialized bees, Ruby-Throated hummingbirds, and butterflies

Bloom period: early summer-early fall

Best Areas for Planting: low to mid-moisture, full sun to half shade; neutral, well-drained soils that are clay, shallow rocky, and alkaline

Natural Habitat: forests, rocky woodlands, clearings, meadows, roadsides

Most of the species information is from The Virginia Native Plant Society website, which offers free, extensive pdfs for each region of Virginia, highlighting about 100 native species (there are many more!) and helpful additional information for planning personal projects. If you aren’t from Virginia, you can search for similar resources in your state! To explore other resources and advice, navigate to the guidance page.

Visit the homepage to explore other sites and learn more about native plants.