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perennial

Wild bergamot

Monarda fistulosa

Climate-suitable non-native

Growing guidance

Horticultural figures below are practitioner estimates for planning, pending expert review. The botanical record further down is sourced and verifiable.

Current-climate suitability

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Future-climate resilience

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Sun

Full sun

Soil moisture

average, moisture-retentive

Heat tolerance

Up to about 40°C

Cold tolerance

Down to about -35°C

Waterlogging tolerance

2/5

Drought tolerance

3/5

Mature size

0.9–1.2 m tall, 0.6 m spread

Seasonal interest

Midsummer · Lilac pink

Maintenance

low

Wildlife supported

General wildlife value 5/5 (verified species relationships are shown only where structured data exists)

Known risks or warnings

Mildew in humid, crowded, dry-rooted positions.

Toxicity: none

Verified botanical record

Accepted scientific name
Monarda fistulosa L.
Family
Lamiaceae (Lamiales)
Rank and status
species · accepted
GBIF record
Taxon 5341411

Recorded as introduced in: Germany

Ranges are exactly as recorded in the GBIF source checklists and may be incomplete for widely cultivated species.

Monarda fistulosa, the wild bergamot or bee balm, is a wildflower in the mint family Lamiaceae, widespread and abundant as a native plant in much of North America. This plant, with showy summer-blooming pink to lavender flowers, is often used as a honey plant, medicinal plant, and garden ornamental. The species is quite variable, and several subspecies or varieties have been recognized within it. Despite its name, it has no relation to the 'true' bergamot, a citrus fruit.

Description from Wikipedia — Monarda fistulosa (CC BY-SA), shortened and unedited in substance.

Native status and geographic context

  • United Kingdom: climate-suitable
  • United States: native
  • Australia: climate-suitable

Native status is never inferred from climate similarity. Plants restricted or invasive in a jurisdiction are excluded from recommendations there.

Demonstration data. Climate, plant and retailer records shown here are realistic samples awaiting horticultural validation and live data connections.