Monarda fistulosa (Wild Bergamot)
| Also known as: | Horsemint, Bee Balm, Mint-leaf Bee-balm |
|---|---|
| Genus: | Monarda |
| Family: | Lamiaceae (Mint) |
| Life cycle: | perennial |
| Origin: | native |
| Habitat: | sun; dry fields, prairies, along roads |
| Bloom season: | June - August |
| Plant height: | 2 to 4 feet |
| Wetland Indicator Status: | GP: UPL MW: FACU NCNE: FACU |
| MN county distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
| National distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
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Detailed Information
Flower: 
![[photo of flowers]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pd/monarda-fistulosa-003.jpg)
Round cluster 1 to 2 inches across of tubular flowers, solitary at the end of branching stems arising from leaf axils. Color ranges from purple to lavender to pink, rarely white. Individual flowers have a ¼-inch wide curved lower lip and a thin straight upper lip. The upper lip has a tuft of white hairs at the tip, the lower is hairy on the underside and lobed with a short rectangular extension at the tip that is notched in 2 parts. 2 brown-tipped stamens extend beyond the tip of the upper lip. A tubular calyx holds each flower.
Leaves and stem:
![[photo of leaves]](/udata/r9ndp23q/purple/wild-bergamot_0626_154805.jpg)
Leaves are coarsely toothed, 1 to 4 inches long and up to 1½ inches wide, rounded at the leaf base and tapering to a point at the tip, on leaf stalks up to 5/8 inch long. Leaves are hairy underneath and smooth or hairy on the upper surface. Attachment is opposite. The stem is a reddish brown color, square, and hairy to varying degrees.
Fruit:
![[photo of seed head]](/udata/r9ndp23q/purple/monarda-fistulosa-wild-bergamot_1130_154622.jpg)
The flowers drop off leaving the calyxes behind. Seed develops inside the calyx. The head turns dark brown as the seed ripens.
![[photo of seed]](/udata/r9ndp23q/purple/monarda-fistulosa-15-s1.jpg)
Seed is smooth, brown, oval, and about 1.5 millimeter long.
Notes:
There are 2 varieties of Wild Bergamot in Minnesota, var. fistulosa, very common throughout the state, and var. menthaefolia, a more western species found in only a few Minnesota counties. The latter is a shorter, little branched plant with leaf stalks that are rarely over 3/8 inch long, but is otherwise very similar. Wild Bergamot is one of my favorite flowers. In full bloom, the flower head looks like a little fireworks display. It is an excellent garden plant. The dried leaves and flower heads are wonderfully aromatic; Bergamot oils have been used in natural healing for centuries.
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More photos
Wild Bergamot plants
branching plant structure
a patch of var. menthaefolia, in North Dakota
developing seed head
pink flowers
atypical white flowers
Wild Bergamot plants
branching plant structure
a patch of var. menthaefolia, in North Dakota
developing seed head
pink flowers
atypical white flowersExcept where noted, photos by K. Chayka and Peter M. Dziuk taken in Ramsey, Anoka and Dodge counties.
Comments
Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?
on: 2009-08-19 09:26:45
I've been seeing a lot of these along the Heartland Trail this year. Do they bloom every year? It seems like there are a lot of years I don't see any, then they return.
on: 2009-08-20 06:34:43
Wild bergamot is a perennial, so they should bloom year after year. Weather might have an effect on how well it does, but this year they did OK around the Metro even with the drought.
on: 2010-09-07 14:26:01
Springbrook Nature Center in Fridley, MN, north of Minneapolis, has a small prairie-like area where these grow. Also this past July, I saw acres and acres of this plant along the interstate in the states south of Minnesota. It really is a gorgeous flower and a useful herb.
on: 2011-07-13 15:06:54
Just today enjoyed fields with this flower in full bloom, along with the bright Rudbeckia hirta (Black-eyed Susan) -- gorgeous flowers, gorgeous combination. We also have many patches of Monarda fistulosa growing alongside the Lake Como shoreline, thanks to restoration efforts.
on: 2011-07-30 21:51:50
There is a fair amount of this growing along the bike/walking paths north of Cedar Lake.
on: 2012-07-14 11:29:36
What can the herb be used for?
on: 2014-07-12 15:03:26
Gorgeous plants! They are in random patches in the ditches of Renville and Redwood counties. I transplanted some to my garden and they come back each year.
on: 2014-07-17 15:39:26
Blooming by the thousands July 17, 2014, in the restored prairie in Afton State Park, Washington County.
on: 2014-08-08 12:52:49
Glad to find this website and identify this plant. Lots of plants growing freely in non-mowed pastures and along roads..
on: 2014-08-08 14:53:26
I've seen these near Williams, MN
on: 2014-08-10 08:38:49
These grow all over in Martin County.
on: 2015-08-03 23:35:34
Along Paul Bunyan Trail between Pequot Lakes, and Backus. Doing very well this year
on: 2015-08-22 09:22:31
Found this on guided tour of these areas on 8-8-15.
on: 2015-11-04 10:31:58
Live in northern Illinois, moving to MN next year. We bought a couple native plants in Grand Rapids and put them in the ground here. They are the Rudbeckia & Bergamot. I waited for the flowers to drop and clipped off the center of the flower after it turned brown. What is the best way to be sure and secure the seeds so we can plant them on our property in Cohasset. We are going to move the 2 plants from this site, but want to be able to have more plants from the seed. Thank You, Bob
on: 2016-07-09 16:13:17
SWCD plants, first planted in 2015 as a butterfly garden. I'm hoping to move some to a new area of our acreage for naturalization.
on: 2016-07-10 21:31:12
I've seen these these growing along the Greenway in Minneapolis. I noticed that the leaves smell very much like oregano. I was wondering, has anyone has cooked with these leaves?
on: 2016-07-10 21:53:31
The leaves are commonly brewed for tea.
on: 2017-04-25 23:41:40
Ruby Throated Hummingbirds love this plant. If you happen to be in the south metro a large track of this plant is by the front entrance of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge
Refuge Headquarters and Bloomington Education and Visitor Center
3815 American Blvd. East
Bloomington, MN 55425
Phone: 952-854-5900
on: 2017-07-12 09:39:40
Glad to see this in the 3rd year of my native planting restoration project on Crystal Lake.
on: 2017-07-19 13:54:36
We have a large number of these along the trail just west of Avon. They were planted by the city of Avon as part of beautification project of the Lower Spunk Lake boat landing. Beautiful flowers!
on: 2017-08-05 13:38:27
We have photographed a few white Bergamot along Paul Bunyan Trail.
on: 2018-07-12 11:17:03
I gave these growing in my yard. Also have the white ones.
on: 2018-07-28 04:24:06
Had a bunch of pink and purple flowers pop up in my backyard near my raspberry bushes this year in Northwestern Minnesota. Very unique and bright flowers.
on: 2019-07-21 20:08:03
These are growing in a wildlife protection area behind my apartment building. One of my favorite wildflowers!
on: 2020-06-29 13:13:38
Is monarda didyma also native to MN? I'm wondering if what I have in my yard is in fact mondarda didyma but don't see it listed on this site. Thanks for a super-informative and useful site! I have spent a lot of time outside and researching on here in this time of COVID.
on: 2020-06-29 18:36:19
Derek, M. didyma is native to our east, from Vermont to Ohio and as far south as the northern tip of Georgia. See national map.
on: 2020-07-20 22:23:36
I saw many of these in bloom today in a small prairie remnant as well as two plants that had the white flowers. I had never seen any with white flowers before so it was an interesting thing to see. I'm hoping they will be white flowering if I grow some from seed.
on: 2020-08-12 11:17:32
Just poped up by front door. Hadn't seen it before.
on: 2021-04-19 13:33:17
There a quite a few on the restored prairie that runs between Lake Phalen and the walking trail. If the flowers are in bloom, it seems like they're always full of bumble bees, honey bees, and other pollinators.
on: 2021-07-21 20:15:34
We saw many of these along the paved trail today, quite beautiful. (Wacouta is near Red Wing,MN)
on: 2021-10-19 11:56:58
Is it best to prune bee balm plants down to a few inches from the ground in the fall or should I just leave them alone?
on: 2021-10-19 12:37:56
Anne, the general consensus is to leave them alone. Migrating and overwintering birds will want the seeds and some insects will hibernate in the stems.
on: 2024-07-22 09:14:51
Hi! I recently came across a plant with the white colored flowers, here it says that this is a rare occurrence. Does anyone have any information as to why this is? I haven't been able to find any readings so I'd greatly appreciate any information. Thanks!
on: 2024-07-22 10:34:00
Riley, regarding white-flowered plants: Mother Nature does what she wants, when she wants. :-)
on: 2024-09-10 04:55:16
This is growing like a weed in a ditch/field nearby along with some patches of Anise Hyssop and other native wildflowers. Both are beautiful plants with such wonderfully aromatic leaves. I transplanted some in a pot and they are doing great. I plan to grow more.
on: 2024-09-10 08:59:58
k, Minnesota Wildflowers does not condone taking native plants from the wild without the landowners permission, regardless of whether it's on public or private land. Unless the site is in imminent danger of destruction, it's best to leave them where they are so they can serve pollinators and other wildlife, as is their purpose. This species is readily available from native plant nurseries, so spend a couple dollars and support a Minnesota business in the process.