wild bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
The plant contains thymol, the same antiseptic found in modern mouthwash, giving it a spicy, oregano-like scent.
- Scientific name
- Monarda fistulosa
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Lamiales › Lamiaceae › Monarda
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Dry thickets, clearings, and tallgrass prairies.
- Diet
- Photosynthetic (sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide).
- Range
- North America, Southern Canada, United States, Northern Mexico
- Size
- 60 to 120 cm (2 to 4 feet) in height.
- Lifespan
- Perennial (living for many years via underground rhizomes).
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat fragmentation, land development, and competition from invasive plant species.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless and fragrant. You can safely observe or smell the flowers. If you have a known allergy to the Lamiaceae (mint) family, avoid handling. Do not harvest in protected areas; ensure sustainable practices on private land.
Monarda fistulosa , the wild bergamot or bee balm , is a wildflower in the mint family (Lamiaceae) widespread and abundant as a native plant in much of North America. This plant, with showy summer-blooming pink to lavender flowers, is often used as a honey plant, medicinal plant, and garden ornamental. The species is quite variable, and several subspecies or varieties have been recognized within it.
Photo: tzeducation, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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