Pollinator plant

Wild Bergamot

Monarda fistulosa

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Common names

28 names · 18 languages
EnglishYour language
+5 more namesShow fewer names
  • Eastern Bergamot[1]
  • Lupine
  • Mintleaf bergamot
  • Wild Bee-Balm
  • Wild Bergamot[1][2][3][4]
Other languages (17)
Dutch
  • Monarda
  • Wilde bergamotplant
French
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 拟美国薄荷[4]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 擬美國薄荷[4]
Czech
  • Zavinutka trubkovitá[4]
Danish
  • Vild hestemynte[4]
Finnish
  • preeriaväriminttu[4]
German
Japanese
  • ヤグルマハッカ[4]
Ojibwe
  • Aamoogaawanzh (weca'wûs wackwî'nek)[4]
Polish
  • pysznogłówka dęta[4]
Russian
  • Монарда дудчатая[4]
Slovak
  • monarda píšťalovitá[4]
Spanish
Swedish
  • lila temynta[4]
Thai
  • เบอร์กามอตป่า[4]
Ukrainian
  • Монарда трубчаста[4]
Sources & name notes (4)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Monarda fistulosa — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Wild Bergamot — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Monarda fistulosa.
  • Appalachian Bergamot — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Monarda fistulosa.
  • Bee Balm — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Monarda fistulosa.
  • Eastern Bergamot — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Monarda fistulosa.
[2] Monarda fistulosa — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • wild bergamot — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 85320; Monarda fistulosa.
  • monarde fistuleuse — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 85320; Monarda fistulosa.
  • Wilde Bergamotte — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 85320; Monarda fistulosa.
  • Wilde Indianernessel — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 85320; Monarda fistulosa.
  • Wilde Monarde — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 85320; Monarda fistulosa.
  • bee balm — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 85320; Monarda fistulosa.
  • Monarda morada — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 85320; Monarda fistulosa.
[3] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Monarda fistulosa ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Wild bergamot (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 159562; taxon 4428K.
[4] Monarda fistulosa — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • wild bergamot — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 85320; Monarda fistulosa.
  • monarde fistuleuse — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 85320; Monarda fistulosa.
  • Wilde Bergamotte — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 85320; Monarda fistulosa.
  • Wilde Indianernessel — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 85320; Monarda fistulosa.
  • Wilde Monarde — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 85320; Monarda fistulosa.
  • bee balm — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 85320; Monarda fistulosa.
  • Monarda morada — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 85320; Monarda fistulosa.
  • Монарда дудчатая — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 85320; Monarda fistulosa.
  • Aamoogaawanzh (weca'wûs wackwî'nek) — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 85320; Monarda fistulosa.
  • ヤグルマハッカ — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 85320; Monarda fistulosa.
  • 擬美國薄荷 — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 85320; Monarda fistulosa.
  • 拟美国薄荷 — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 85320; Monarda fistulosa.
  • lila temynta — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 85320; Monarda fistulosa.
  • Vild hestemynte — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 85320; Monarda fistulosa.
  • preeriaväriminttu — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 85320; Monarda fistulosa.
  • เบอร์กามอตป่า — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 85320; Monarda fistulosa.
  • Zavinutka trubkovitá — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 85320; Monarda fistulosa.
  • pysznogłówka dęta — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 85320; Monarda fistulosa.
  • monarda píšťalovitá — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 85320; Monarda fistulosa.
  • Монарда трубчаста — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 85320; Monarda fistulosa.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Monarda fistulosa is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Lamiaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
0.61–1.22 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.61–0.91 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Clumping

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist; Occasionally Dry

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; Shallow Rocky

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Autumn; Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: butterflies, hummingbirds, moths, pollinators, specialized bees.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Native range
Canada to NE. Mexico.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Low suitability
Nectar value Low
Pollen value Unknown
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Herbaceous
Size
Small
Dimensions
1.50 m high × 0.50 m wide
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifecycle
Perennial

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
4-10
Moisture
Moist, Well-drained
Soil
Sandy, Loamy, Clay
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Sun

Uses

Edible parts
Leaves, Flowers, Seasoning, Tea
Edibility
3 out of 5
Medicinal value
2 out of 5

Leaves - raw or cooked. The above-ground parts of the plant can be used as an herb, even though they are quite aromatic. They are often used to flavor salads and warm dishes. The flowers can be used as a decorative, edible addition to salads. Furthermore, the fresh or dried leaves can be used to make a refreshing, aromatic tea.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Monarda fistulosa — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 687023; ID 4428K; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 687023; ID 4428K; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Monarda fistulosa — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Monarda fistulosa — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 110376; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 173414, 173415, 173416, 173417, 173418, 173419, 173420, 173421, 173422, 173423, 173424, 173425, 173426, 173427, 173428, 173429, 173430, 173431, 173432, 173433, 173434, 173435, 173436, 173437, 173438, 173439, 173440, 173441, 173442, 173443, 173444, 173445, 173446, 173447, 173448, 173449, 173450, 173451, 173452, 173453, 173454, 173455, 173456, 173457, 173458, 173459, 173460, 173461, 173462, 173463, 173464

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.