What is it? Monarda fistulosa, also known as wild bergamot or bee balm, is a wildflower in the mint family.
Native to where? It is native to much of North America.
Hardiness Zone: Plants are hardy from USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 9.
What does it look like? It has showy summer-blooming pink to lavender flowers. The plants are typically up to 3 feet tall, with a few erect branches.
Bloom Time: Plants bloom in July, August, and September.
Growth Habit: It grows from slender creeping rhizomes, thus commonly occurring in large clumps. The plant is noted for its fragrance.
Growing Conditions: It is a highly adaptable native plant that thrives in all but the wettest soils. It grows in full to partial sun.
Environmental Benefits: The fragrant lavender flowers are a popular nectar source for pollinators and attract a wide variety of bees and butterflies. Hummingbirds may also visit. It is a host plant for the Hermit Sphinx moth.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarda_fistulosa
https://www.prairienursery.com/bergamot-monarda-fistulosa.html
Image Source:
By Eric Hunt - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=91403406
Bee Balm
Plant Pickup Day is Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 531 11th St., corner of 11th Street and Elizabeth Street in Baraboo, from 9 am to 2 pm.
Last year, some of the plant varieties purchased in the online sale were backordered from the nursery due to weather-related setbacks in their greenhouses. We received those varieties about a month later and we then distributed them to those who were waiting.
While we hope this will not be an issue again this year, there is that possibility. As all of us who garden know, there is no guarantee that plants or weather will cooperate with our plans.
If we run into this issue again, our plan is to make sure you get your plants as soon as they are ready from our supplier. Thanks in advance for your understanding!