Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
An herbaceous perennial plant native to much of North America with beautiful light purple blooms. Wild bergamot honey is prized for its' herby-sweet flavor and the flowers attract lots of beneficial insects to the garden. Native American used the plant as a medicinal remedy and generally infused the aromatic leaves in tea. (As always, consult your medical provider for advise on herbal remedies!) Wild bergamot spreads through underground rhizomes and it looks beautiful in mass plantings. We love wild bergamot as a cut-flower in arrangments.
Origin: We collected the parent seed of our Wild Bergamot from wild plants on a trail near Watch Knob Mountain in Swannanoa, NC many years ago.
(Approximately 50 seeds per packet)
Germination rate: 80% - tested 8/30/24
Planting Instructions: Sow a few seeds in a 4 inch pot indoors in mid-winter, barely covering them with soil. Transplant outside in the spring or summer, 6-8 weeks after starting the seeds, spacing plants 12-18" apart in full sun to part shade. Seeds can also be sown directly in the garden 6-8 weeks before your last frost in spring.
