Monarda fistulosa - wild bergamot
DESCRIPTION
wild bergamotMonarda fistulosa
Monarda fistulosa has lovely lavender flowers atop aromatic foliage. Easy to grow in a perennial border, wildflower garden or meadow. Wild bergamot is a great naturalizing wildflower and a magnet for butterflies and hummingbirds. Monarda fistulosa prefers dry to moist, organically rich, well-drained soil in full to part sun. More prolific in full sun and moist soils.
BENEFITS
- Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds
- Deer resistant; resists powdery mildew and drought
- Thrives in full sun or partial shade
- Flowers for many weeks in summer
- Stems provide winter cover for beneficial insects
NATIVE INFO
Native Range
Woods, thickets and prairies; Quebec to Manitoba and British Columbia south to Arizona and Georgia.
Map Credit: The Biota of North America
Map Key: Green (native), Teal (native, adventive), Blue (present), Yellow (present & rare), Red (extinct)
Interesting Facts
Butterflies use their tarsi or "feet" as taste receptors. When they contact sweet liquids such as nectar butterflies extend their proboscis to eat the nectar sensed by the taste receptors.
GROWING TIPS