Somerset County

Monarda fistulosa 

Plant of the Week... 

...also called wild bergamot, is a clump forming native perennial in the mint family that thrives in full sun to partial shade with excellent air circulation, and dry to medium moisture and are tolerant of some drought.  Bergamot grows 2-4 feet tall, spreading 2-3 feet, and can spread by seed.  The fragrant, pink to lavender flowers are created with 2 lipped tubular flowers that are densely back on a terminal head or calyx.  Each flower head sits on a whorl of showy pinkish leafy bracts. Flowers are attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds for their nectar.  The flowers also attract many bees, including 3 specialized bees, Dufourea monardae, Perdita gerhardi and Protandreana abdominalis.  Native bees can make their nest in the dead hollow stems if the stems are cut back to 12-24 inches tall and are allowed to stay in the garden until they disintegrate on their own. A list of bees and wasps provided by Mt Cuba Center that visited the Monarda include Bumble bee, Cuckoo Bee, Honey Bee, Leaf Cutter Bee, Long-Horned Bee, Mason Bee, Mining Bee, Polyester Bee, Sweat Bee, Yellow-faced Bee, Paper Wasp, Sphex Wasp and Weevil Wasp.  The butterflies and moths included the Black Swallowtail, Cabbage White, Clearwing Moth, Common Buckeye, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Fritillary, Gray Hairstreak, Monarch, Pipevine Swallowtail, Red Admiral, Silver-spotted Skipper, Sphinx Moth, Spicebush Swallowtail and Sulphur. Their list of birds include the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Catbird, Goldfinch and Sparrow.   Although the plants are not as colorful as Beebalm, the flowers still provide color and nectar in the landscapes from June to September.  The flowers make excellent cut flowers or dry flowers.  The fragrant and edible green leaves are attached to the square stems in an opposite fashion.  Each leave is oblong with a toothed margin and grows 3-6 inches long and can be used to make teas.     Powdery mildew can damage the leaves if the plants are stressed by drought and if the plants are over overcrowded with poor air circulation.  Too much water can lead to root rot. On the positive side the plants are not enjoyed by either deer or rabbits due to their strong fragrance.

Ginny Rosenkranz

Extension Advisory Committee