Wild Bergamot Plant, 3.5 Inch Pot

We'll begin shipping plants early to mid March, once temperatures are suitable to ensure your plants arrive healthy and happy.

Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) brings both beauty and aromatic punch to the garden. The shaggy lavender-pink flowers are unmistakable, and the minty-oregano scent of the foliage announces itself on warm days. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds visit constantly, making this native plant a pollinator powerhouse.

A hardy perennial native to prairies and open woodlands across North America, wild bergamot thrives in full sun to part shade and tolerates a range of soil conditions. Plants grow 2-4 feet tall and spread via rhizomes to form patches over time. Good air circulation helps prevent powdery mildew, which can affect plants in humid climates or crowded conditions.

Herbalists traditionally value wild bergamot as an aromatic digestive and respiratory herb. Native peoples used it widely — the Oswego tribe made tea from it, giving it the common name "Oswego tea." The leaves and flowers are harvested when blooming and can be used fresh or dried. The aromatic oils give it antimicrobial properties, and it's been traditionally used both internally as tea and externally as a wash. Its distinctive scent and flavor make it a memorable herb in any preparation.