Wild Bergamot

Monarda fistulosa. Linnaeus named the genus Monarda in honor of a 16th century Spanish physician and botanist, Nicolas Bautista Monardes (1493-1588). Monardes never went to the Americas but was able to study medicinal plants in Spain because Spain controlled navigation and commerce from the New World.

Usually used as a tea herb with edible flowers. The leaves and flowers and stems are used in alternative medicine as an antiseptic, carminative, diaphoretic, diuretic and stimulant. An infusion is medicinal used internally in the treatment of colds, catarrh, headaches, and gastric disorders, to reduce low fevers and soothe sore throat, to relieve flatulence, nausea, menstrual pain, and insomnia. Steam inhalation of the plant can be used for sore throats, and bronchial catarrh.

The plants are typically up to 0.9m (3 feet) tall, with a few erect branches. Its leaves are about 5-8cm (2-3 in.) long, lance-shaped, and toothed. Its compact flower clusters are solitary at the ends of branches. Each cluster is about 1.5 in (4 cm) long, containing about 20–50 flowers.Edible lilac flowers bloom July-August. Drought tolerant and adaptable to many soil types.

Interestingly, it is a  source of oil of thyme but not Bergamot Oil which comes from the peel of a little Italian Orange. Bees & butterflies love it. Lorraine Johnson suggests growing it with Black-Eyed Susans & Coreopsis. 50-80 cm. Full sun to partial shade. 0.04g/approximately 100 seeds. Photo by www.greenfusephotos.com