This perennial native to pretty much all of North America thrives in dry, rocky and low-quality soils, and there is plenty of that on the cape. This member of the mint family forms clumps that can grow 2 to 4 feet tall. It blooms with beautiful lavender flowers that closely resemble the flowers of a related species, Monarda didyma. These flowers are attractive to bees and butterflies. Wild bergamot starts blooming a little later than wild beebalm, but it continues to produce flowers throughout the remainder of the summer.
You are probably familiar with bergamot tea, which is brewed from the leaves of this plant.
I planted this perennial in less than ideal light conditions – wild bergamot thrives in full sun to partial shade, and I have them in almost full shade. Despite that, they still flower, but they have fallen victim to leaf eating insects and even some mildew, even though the species is fairly mildew resistant. I may move them to a better location in the fall.
Monarda fistulosa Cummaquid August 10 2011
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