Monarda fistulosa

Monarda fistulosa, also known as wild bergamot or bee balm, is a perennial plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is native to much of North America and is commonly found in dry meadows, prairies, and forests.

Description

Monarda fistulosa is a herbaceous plant that grows from slender creeping rhizomes, thus commonly occurring in large clumps. The plants are typically up to 3 ft (0.91 m) tall, with a few erect branches. Its leaves are about 2-3 in (5.1-7.6 cm) long, lance-shaped, and toothed. Its compact flower clusters are solitary at the ends of branches. Each cluster is about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) long and contains about 20-50 flowers.

Uses

The plant has a long history of use as a medicinal plant by Native Americans including the Menominee, the Ojibwe, and the Winnebago (Ho-Chunk). It was used most commonly to treat colds, and was frequently made into a tea. Today, many families still use wild bergamot during the cold and flu season. The tea may be sweetened with honey, as it tends to be quite strong.

Cultivation

Monarda fistulosa is cultivated as an ornamental plant, both within its native range and elsewhere throughout the world. It is naturalized further west in the United States and also in parts of Europe and Asia. It is resistant to deer and rabbits, and has been shown to be resistant to the disease powdery mildew, although this can depend on environmental conditions. It is best grown in dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. It is a somewhat short-lived perennial that is self-seeding and will naturalize in the garden by both seeds and rhizomes.

See also

• List of Lamiaceae genera
• Medicinal plants

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