July Monthly Native Plant Spotlight: Wild Bergamot
- 16 hours ago
- 3 min read
The native plant in the spotlight for July is Wild Bergamot. Belonging to the Mint Family, Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) is an Ohio perennial also commonly known as Bee Balm, Owego Tea, or Horsemint. Members of the Mint Family often have distinguishing traits such as square stems, opposite leaf arrangement, and tubular, bilabiate flowers, however it is important to note that not all species exhibit these traits. Other well-known members of the Mint Family include Rosemary, Lavendar, Sage, Thyme, Basil, Oregano, and Peppermint, though most of these are not native to Ohio or the United States.
Wild Bergamot typically grows anywhere between 2-4 feet tall on square, hairy stems and displays a spherical cluster of purple, pink, or whiteish tubular flowers from June to September. Each flower is about 1 inch long featuring a bilabiate corolla comprised of an upper and bottom lip and stamens protruding from the end. The leaves are oppositely arranged, lanceolate, and toothed along the margins.
This species works well in both dryer and wetter conditions and a variety of soil types but prefers well-draining soils. Good air circulation is needed, as it is common for Wild Bergamot to develop a white coating known as powdery mildew on its leaves in areas with poor air flow. It can tolerate full or partial sun and is typically found in meadows, prairies, or open woodlands throughout Ohio. It can be planted for a variety of purposes, including rain gardens, pollinator gardens, native gardens, or to restore natural areas. They are great for soil stabilization near water as they develop deep fibrous roots, a trait common amongst native plants. Along with vertical depth, they are efficient at lateral spread due to their growth by rhizome roots. This also helps stabilize soil. They naturally develop new offshoots from rhizome spread, meaning they require less maintenance to help them establish in an area.
Wild Bergamot plays an important ecological role for wildlife and pollinators, giving them habitat and serving as an excellent nectar and pollen source. This species supports a variety of pollinators such as bees, wasps, butterflies, hummingbirds, and moths. One specialist bee thrives only on plants from the Monarda genus. This species is the small black sweat bee, or Dufourea monardae. Preserving native species within the Monarda genus is crucial to preserving the small black sweat bee populations in Ohio.
If you are looking to establish Wild Bergamot in your garden or a natural area, late summer and fall are a great time to harvest seeds from existing flowers. Seeds are ready to be harvested when the flower head is brown and dry. You can clip the seed head and let it fully dry out. Once you have ensured it is fully dried out, you can shake the seed head in a bag or container to knock the seeds off. When planting the seeds, you can either start them indoors or sow them outside in late fall or early spring, planting them just on the surface of the soil and keeping them moist regardless of your method. If starting them indoors, you can germinate them in a moist, closed container or in starter pots with regular watering. Make sure these seedlings have a light source, otherwise they will not germinate. Because they grow by rhizomes, the mature plants may grow into clumps underground which can lead to poor circulation and less optimal growth. To prevent this, you may need to separate the rhizomes and establish each mature plant in its own area.
Wild Bergamot is a great selection for fragrant blooms that is sure to attract a variety of wildlife. It even has various traditional medicinal, herbal, aromatic, and culinary uses.
Stay tuned for our August native plant spotlight!
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