Plant Names
Monarda fistulosa
Wild Bergamot
Monarde fistuleuse
Synonyms
Oswego-tea
purple beebalm
wild horsemint
Plant Characteristics
Bloom Colour: Purple
Bloom Period: Jul - Sep
Max Height: 4.0 feet
Max Width: 3.0 feet (spreads by rhizome)
Light Condition:
More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Soil conditions:
Tolerates dry soil condition
Tolerates medium soil condition
More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Tolerates dry soil condition
Tolerates medium soil condition
Lifespan:
Perennial
plants that will that come back year after year
Gardener Experience:
Suitable for beginner gardeners
Spreads by rhizome
Easy to germinate
Self-seeding
Suitable for beginner gardeners
Spreads by rhizome
Easy to germinate
Self-seeding
Landscape Uses:
Suitable for rain gardens
Suitable for shoreline rehabilitation
Suitable for container garden
Suitable for school gardens
Tolerates boulevard garden conditions
Suitable for rain gardens
Suitable for shoreline rehabilitation
Suitable for container garden
Suitable for school gardens
Tolerates boulevard garden conditions
Ecological Benefits:
Supports hummingbirds
Supports birds
Supports pollinators
Butterfly host
Bee host
Supports hummingbirds
Supports birds
Supports pollinators
Butterfly host
Bee host
Tolerates:
Tolerates drought conditions
Tolerates salt conditions
Deer resistant
Rabbit resistant
Tolerates limestone conditions
Tolerates sandy conditions
Tolerates juglone conditions
Tolerates transplantation
Tolerates drought conditions
Tolerates salt conditions
Deer resistant
Rabbit resistant
Tolerates limestone conditions
Tolerates sandy conditions
Tolerates juglone conditions
Tolerates transplantation
Special Features and Considerations:
This plant is septic tank safe
This plant is septic tank safe
Seed and plant distribution status
No seeds available for this plant.
We are not accepting seeds for this plant at the moment.
Plant Location
Native to Ottawa region: Yes
Distribution according to VASCAN
Ephemeral
Native
Introduced
Excluded
Extirpated
Doubtful
Absent
Canadensis
Thrives in Ecozones
- Atlantic Maritime
- Boreal Plains
- Montane Cordillera
- Prairies
- Boreal Shield
- Pacific Maritime
- Mixed Wood Plains
Ecological Benefits
Butterflies Supported by Monarda fistulosa
- Pyrausta signatalis (Raspberry Pyrausta)
Specialized Bees Supported by Monarda fistulosa
- Dufourea monardae
Complementary Plants
- Anaphalis margaritacea
Pearly Everlasting
Immortelle blanche - Asclepias tuberosa
Butterfly Milkweed
Asclépiade tubéreuse - Liatris spicata
Dense Blazing Star
Liatris à épi - Rudbeckia hirta
Black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckie hérissée - Schizachyrium scoparium
Little Bluestem Grass
Barbon à balais
Substitute For Non-Native Plants
- Lupinus (Non-Native Lupins)
- Buddleia (Butterfly Bush)
- Delphinium (Delphinium)
- Hesperis matronalis (Dame Rocket)
- Mentha (Non-Native Mints)
- Monarda (Beebalm Cultivars)
Sowing Information
Download Seed Envelope Labels (PDF)
- Sowing depth: Surface sow
- Sow anytime
- Stratification duration: 0 days
- Self-seeding
- Notes: Can be sown in spring in warm soil.
Harvesting and Seed Sharing
- Harvest start month: September
- Harvesting indicator:
- Pods are brown, seeds are dark, and crisp, and little stem connecting the pod to the main stem is brown (not green)
- Harvesting:
- Put pods in food processor or blender and blend seeds, and strain seeds using a strainer
- Seed viability test:
- No test needed before donating
- Packaging measure: Half of one, 1/32 teaspoon
- Seed storage:
- Air dry in paper bag or open container, for a few days until crisp
- Shake seeds to move them once in a while to prevent molding
- Cultivar: Yes, do not donate unless you know source, and there are no known cultivars in your garden or at proximity
- Remove non-seed material
- No harvesting video available at this time.
Toxicity Notes
Not known to be toxic to mammals if ingested.