Bee Balm (Wild Bergamot)

Bee Balm, or Wild Bergamot, is a delightful perennial with unique tubular flowers in shades of purple, pink, or lavender that bloom from mid to late summer. This hardy plant reaches about 3-4 feet in height and brings vibrant color and fragrance to any garden. Known for attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies, it’s a must-have for creating a buzzing, biodiverse garden. Bee Balm was historically used by Native Americans as a medicinal herb and to make flavorful teas. Gardeners love having this stunning plant for its fragrant foliage, which has a delightful, citrusy scent. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and is perfect for borders, meadows, or naturalized garden spaces. This hardy, drought-tolerant plant is also a wonderful addition to cut flower arrangements, adding height and a pop of color. Enjoy its resilience and beautiful blooms year after year!

Also Known As: Bee Balm, Wild Bergamot, Oswego Tea, Mountain Mint, Indian Herb, Horsemint, Lemon Bee Balm, Purple Bee Balm, Wild Oregano, Citronella Plant, Fistulosa Bee Balm

Plant Name:	Bergamot, Wild
Latin Name:	Monarda fistulosa
Days to Germinate:	14-28
Days to Bloom:	730
Plant Height:	2 - 3 Feet
Spread:	2 - 3 Feet
Bloom Diameter:	1 - 2 Inches
Growth Habit:	Clumping
USDA Zones:	3-9
Lifespan:	Perennial
Brand:	TomorrowSeeds
Sunlight:	Full Sun, Partial Shade
Pollination:	Heirloom, Open-Pollinated
GMO:	No
Fungicide-Treated Seeds*:	No
Seeds Packed For**:	2025

*Fungicide-treated seeds protect the seedlings from diseases until they are up and growing. Do not eat treated seeds.
**Seeds are freshly packed for the growing season of the year listed. Seeds are still viable beyond pack date. Store in a cool and dry location such as the refrigerator or basement to best preserve germination rates.

Planting Instructions:

Soil Preparation:

Choose an area with heavy, well-draining soil that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight each day. Remove weeds, large rocks, and litter from the planting area. Leave small weeds and dead grass, they will enrich the soil when turned under. Spade or till the soil 8-12 inches deep. Loosening the soil will help the plant establish strong roots.

Plants grow best in soil with lots of organic matter. You may optionally add fertilizer or organic material such as compost, leaves, or rotted hay to mix into the soil at this point. For small gardens, scatter 2-3 tablespoons of fertilizer evenly and work into the top 2-3 inches of soil for each hill or 2 foot by 2 foot planting area. For larger gardens, scatter 2-3 pounds of a complete fertilizer for each 100 square feet of planting area. Work fertilizer or organic material into the soil and leave the surface smooth.

Form rows of soil beds 4-6 inches high and at least 2 feet apart. This formation of ridges will help with drainage.

Planting:

Starting Indoors: For earlier blooms, you may optionally cold-stratify Lavender seeds for at least 30 days then start planting indoors in containers 6-8 weeks before the last expected frost date in Spring, keeping seedlings at least 65F. Harden off then transplant seedlings outdoors in a sunny location when temperatures are consistently above 60F. To transplant seedlings, prepare a transplant hole outdoors in a sunny location. Remove the plants carefully from the pots or flats and set them in the transplant holes, burying some of the stem in the ground. Pack the soil loosely around the plant and leave a slightly sunken area around each plant to hold water. Water the plants after transplanting.

Directly Sowing: If directly sowing outdoors, plant after the first hard frost in early Spring to cold-stratify seeds. Plants will germinate in late Spring when the soil warms to at least 60F. Fall planting is not recommended unless planting outdoors in environments with mild, frost-free winters, or planting indoors with supplemental grow lights. For blooms in late Spring of the following year, sow outdoors after the first hard frost in Fall to cold-stratify seeds.

To plant, make holes 1/8 inch deep and spaced 18-24 inches apart down the rows of raised beds. Plant 2-3 seeds per hole, then cover thinly with soil. In small plots, flower seeds may be scattered and gently watered in. Once seedlings emerge, plants can be separated and spaced 12 inches apart to allow room for mature plants to spread and prevent overcrowding. Water after planting.

Planting Depth:	1/8 inch
Within-Row Spacing:	18-24 inches
Between-Row Spacing:	2-3 feet

Care During the Season:

Watering: Water the plants deeply, soaking the soil to a depth of 6-8 inches, once a week. If there is no rainfall, water 2-3 times a week. Sandy soils may need to be watered more often than heavy clay soils.

Weeding: Keeping plants weed-free improves production. If plowing or hoeing, do not dig deeper than 1 inch to prevent from cutting the feeder roots.

Fertilizing: Once seedlings are established, 2-4 weeks after planting, you may optionally add fertilizer. Read and follow fertilizer instructions for best application. Water plants after fertilizing.

Insecticides: Insecticides may be used to protect plants. Bt-based insecticides and sulfur are organic options that can be used for prevention. Sulfur also has fungicidal properties and helps in controlling many diseases. Before using a pesticide, read the label and follow cautions, warnings and directions.

Diseases: If spots or mold appear, treat plants with an approved fungicide. Neem oil, sulfur, and other fungicides may be used. When using fungicides always follow label directions.

Harvesting:

To harvest Monarda fistulosa (Wild Bergamot), wait until the plant is in full bloom, typically during midsummer to early fall, when the flowers are vibrant and fully open but before they begin to wilt or fade. For the best quality, harvest in the morning after the dew has evaporated but before the heat of the day sets in, as this is when the essential oils are most concentrated. Use sharp scissors or pruning shears to cut the stems, leaving about 4–6 inches of the plant to encourage regrowth. If harvesting for dried flowers, tie the stems in small bundles and hang them upside down in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area, out of direct sunlight. Monarda fistulosa can be harvested for its leaves and flowers for use in teas, medicinal preparations, or as ornamental dried flowers.