wild bergamot

(Monarda fistulosa)

Overview
wild bergamot
 
 

Wild bergamot is a common and widespread, late season wildflower. It is found in prairies, fields, upland woods, and thickets. It grows under full to partial sun in dry, moderately moist, or wet soil. Flowers appear from July to September.

Like other plants in the mint (Lamiaceae) family, wild bergamot leaves are fragrant. The pleasant scent has been described as “like oregano” or “minty”. Tear a leaf and breathe in the scent one time, and you will be strongly tempted to do it again whenever you encounter this plant.

 
           
 
Description
 
 

Wild bergamot is a 2 to 4 tall, erect perennial. The stems are square, frequently branched near the top, and hairy near the top. The opposite leaves are lance-shaped, sparsely hairy above, and hairy along the veins below. The inflorescence is a single lavender, pale purple, or pink flower head at the end of the stem and and some of the branches.

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 24, 28, 30.

 
  5/14/2023      
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Kingdom Plantae (green algae and land plants)  
  Subkingdom Viridiplantae (green plants)  
  Infrakingdom Streptophyta (land plants and green algae)  
  Superdivision Embryophyta (land plants)  
  Division Tracheophyta (vascular plants)  
  Subdivision Spermatophytina (seed plants)  
  Class Magnoliopsida (flowering plants)  
  Superorder Asteranae  
 

Order

Lamiales (mints, plantains, olives, and allies)  
 

Family

Lamiaceae (mint)  
  Subfamily Nepetoideae  
  Tribe Mentheae  
 

Subtribe

Menthinae (balms, mints, and thymes)  
  Genus Monarda (beebalms and bergamots)  
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

mint-leaved bergamot (Monarda fistulosa var. menthifolia)

soft wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa var. mollis)

wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa var. brevis)

wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa var. fistulosa)

wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa var. longepetiolata)

wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa var. mahuexii)

wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa var. rubra)

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

 

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

horsemint

bee balm

purple bee balm

oswego-tea

wild bergamot

wild bergamot beebalm

wildbergamot beebalm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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Dan W. Andree

 
 

I think white Bergamot flowers...

There were only a few that were surrounded by purple to purplish pink ones. So maybe thought they were just a less common white version. It was a little dryer out there at that time but there has been recent rains to green things up nicely.

  wild bergamot  
           
      wild bergamot  
 

Nancy Falkum

 
 

Tall Cinquefoil with Bergamot both blooming

 
    tall cinquefoil      
 

Alfredo Colon

 
    wild bergamot      
 

Wayne Rasmussen

 
    wild bergamot      
           
 

Eastern tiger swallowtail on wild bergamot

 
    eastern tiger swallowtail      
           
 

Joy Park summer wildflowers and insects are available for viewing

 
    wild bergamot      
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
    wild bergamot   wild bergamot  
           
 

Rare white flowers

 
    wild bergamot   wild bergamot  

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
  Monarda fistulosa
Susanne Wiik
 
  Monarda fistulosa  
 
About

Wild bergamot, Rørhestemynte

 
  Monarda fistulosa (Wild Bergamot)
Allen Chartier
 
  Monarda fistulosa (Wild Bergamot)  
  Monarda fistulosa WILD BERGAMOT
Frank Mayfield
 
  Monarda fistulosa WILD BERGAMOT  

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

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Other Videos
 
  Bee Balm herb, Monarda fistulosa
HerbMentor
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Feb 28, 2010

http://FreeHerbCourse.com Featuring the Bee Balm herb, Monarda fistulosa, in this how to grow Bee Balm video. Also learn how to harvest Bee Balm as well as harvesting herbs and growing herbs.

   
  Monarda Varieties in Minnesota
minnesotaflower's channel
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Aug 12, 2011

Monarda Varieties in Minnesota. Ron DeBrule from Minnesota explains.

Pictured in video: Monarda, ConeFlower, Bee Balm flowers in bloom.

   
  Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
Wandering Sole TV
 
   
 
About

Published on Jul 18, 2013

Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) (aka as bee balm or horse mint) growing in the East Kootenays of British Columbia. It grows throughout most of North America. Many First Nations and Native Americans recognized wild bergamot as a medicinal plant. It was often used to make tea by the Ktunaxa and many other peoples.

   
  Wild Bergamot - Monarda fistulosa in bloom at Ion Exchange
Ionxchange
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Aug 4, 2011

Earthyman views Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) in bloom at Ion Exchange, Native Seed & Plant Nursery in northeast Iowa. http://www.ionxchange.com

   
  Minnesota Native Plant - Wild Bergamot (Monarda Fistulosa)
MNNativePlants
 
   
 
About

Published on Jul 15, 2013

Rich talks about the Minnesota native, Wild Bergamot (Monarda Fistulosa).

   

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this plant.

 
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Be sure to include a location.
 
  Dan W. Andree
7/22/2022

Location: Frenchman’s Bluff SNA

There were only a few that were surrounded by purple to purplish pink ones. So maybe thought they were just a less common white version. It was a little dryer out there at that time but there has been recent rains to green things up nicely.

wild bergamot  
  Alfredo Colon
8/2/2019

Location: Woodbury, Minnesota

wild bergamot  
  Wayne Rasmussen
7/29/2016

Location: Joy Park

wild bergamot  
  Wayne Rasmussen
7/20/2016

Location: Joy Park

Joy Park summer wildflowers and insects are available for viewing

wild bergamot  
  Wayne Rasmussen
7/19/2016

Location: Joy Park

eastern tiger swallowtail  
           
 
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