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Wild Bergamot

from $5.00

(Monarda Fistulosa)

Adored by bees, butterfies & hummingbirds.

Nothing says summer at The Wild Patch like the hummingbirds hovering over a big patch of Wild Bergamot. They can’t stop themselves. But we get it because Wild Bergamot is one native plant that possibly has it all. Rare for a native, this one does not need cold stratification. This means you can directly sow the seeds into your soil in the spring. Wild Bergamot is a clump forming native perennial that produces masses of fragrant lilac-purple flowers. It matures to 4' tall, thrives in full to part sun in all but the driest soils. Not only is it loved by hummingbirds, it’s also a favorite of butterflies and bees and it’s a host to 10 caterpillar species, including the Raspberry pyrausta butterfly. It also boasts wonderfully fragrant leaves, which can be cultivated to make mint tea. Best of all, Wild Bergamot is a member of the mint family so deer and rabbits don’t like the way it smells or tastes, which is a big plus here at The Wild Patch where deer roam freely and rabbits multiply overnight. 

(Note: Now accepting orders for Fall — shipping begins Sept 1 . For local customers, plants available now-Sept 30 for local pick-up. Seeds ship year-round.)

Size:

(Monarda Fistulosa)

Adored by bees, butterfies & hummingbirds.

Nothing says summer at The Wild Patch like the hummingbirds hovering over a big patch of Wild Bergamot. They can’t stop themselves. But we get it because Wild Bergamot is one native plant that possibly has it all. Rare for a native, this one does not need cold stratification. This means you can directly sow the seeds into your soil in the spring. Wild Bergamot is a clump forming native perennial that produces masses of fragrant lilac-purple flowers. It matures to 4' tall, thrives in full to part sun in all but the driest soils. Not only is it loved by hummingbirds, it’s also a favorite of butterflies and bees and it’s a host to 10 caterpillar species, including the Raspberry pyrausta butterfly. It also boasts wonderfully fragrant leaves, which can be cultivated to make mint tea. Best of all, Wild Bergamot is a member of the mint family so deer and rabbits don’t like the way it smells or tastes, which is a big plus here at The Wild Patch where deer roam freely and rabbits multiply overnight. 

(Note: Now accepting orders for Fall — shipping begins Sept 1 . For local customers, plants available now-Sept 30 for local pick-up. Seeds ship year-round.)

PLANT FACTS:

Seeds per packet: 500 seeds

Lifecycle: Perennial

Germination code: A

Needs cold stratification: No

Bloom time: July, August, September

Bloom color: Purplish-pink

Light: Full Sun, Partial Sun

Soil moisture: Medium wet to medium dry

Soil texture: Sand, loam, clay

Soil Ph: Slightly acidic to slightly alkaline

Height: 4’

Plant spacing: 2-3’

USDA zones: 3-9

Deer resistance: High

*Note: Flowers the 2nd year

WILDLIFE BENEFITED

• Birds, butterflies, hummingbirds
• Host to 10 caterpillars species
• Special value to bumble bees and honey bees

PAIRS WELL WITH:

Some good native companions include: Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum), Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) and New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae). Also note that it is not recommended to plant Wild Bergamot with vegetables.

GOOD TO KNOW…

  • Wild Bergamot is very easy to grow from seed. And it’s easy to get started because it does not need a period of cold stratification to germinate. So, you can just sow the seeds.  

    Germination code: A (no stratification needed)
    Days to germination: 7-14 days at 60-70°F
    Days to maturity: 365 days

    Indoors: Transplant (recommended). Sow the seeds indoors, 6-8 weeks before the last frost.  Sprinkle seeds on the surface and press lightly; they need light to germinate. Mist to keep soil moist but not wet; cover loosely with plastic to retain humidity until sprouts develop. Expect sprouts in 1-3 weeks. Once seedlings have true leaves (about 6-8 weeks old), transplant outdoors after the last frost. 

    Outdoors: Sow from early spring up until 8 weeks before the first frost in the fall. Broadcast seeds and gently press them into the soil surface. Keep the area moist until germination and water regularly until established. 

    Note: The Wild Patch is not responsible for buyer germination success. Liability of seller is limited to the cost of the item(s).


  • Many native plant seeds won’t sprout right away — they need certain conditions, like cold, warmth, or moisture, to break dormancy (their “sleeping” state). Germination codes are short labels (like A, B, C, etc.) that tell you what a seed needs to wake up and grow. For Wild Bergamot, a germination code "A" means that the seeds do not require a period of cold, moist stratification to break dormancy.

  • It sounds harder than it is. There are two easy ways to cold stratify your seeds: 

    Method 1: Direct sow the seeds outdoors in late fall or early winter. The natural cycles of freezing and thawing will provide the necessary cold, moist stratification the seeds need and the seeds will germinate the following spring.

    Method 2: This method mimics a natural cold cycle. Just place the seeds in a plastic ziplock bag in between a damp coffee filter or with a small amount of moistened peat moss or sand. Store the bag in the refrigerator for 30+ days. Then remove and sow the seeds.