Wild Bergamont

(Monarda fistulosa)

 

Color photograph: Copyright Nearctica.com, Inc.

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

 

Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)

Identification: Flowers pale lilac to pink, large, tubular, and arched. Lower petal lobe broad, biblike with a thin, rectangular appendage at its apex. Upper petal lobe arched, narrow, containing the protruding stamens, and densely hair at its apex. Flowers in a rounded, apical cluster, with a whorl of bracts at the base, bracts commonly tinged with lilac. Stem square. Leaves in opposite pairs, broad at the base, tapering toward the apex.. Outer margin weakly toothed. Plant 2 to 3 feet in height.

Distribution: Throughout most of North America.

Habitat: Wild Bergamot is found on dry soils, usually in dry woods, thickets, and forest clearings.

Flowering period: July to August.

Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)

Similar Species:

The combination of the lilac colored flowers and the hairy apex of the upper petal lobe will easily identify this species of Monarda.

Similar Species

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