Monarda fistulosa L. var. fistulosa

Appalachian Bergamot; Wild Bergamot; Mint Leaf Beebalm

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Wild Bergamot is a native herbaceous perennial in the Mint family (Lamiaceae). It is native to the northern and western portions of Alabama, but is absent from southeast Alabama. Wild Bergamot occurs in dry woods, in prairies, on rocky hillsides, on roadside banks, and in meadows. It is a perennial forming short stolons. The stems are erect, to 3 feet in height, square in cross section, green or purple in color, sometimes glaucous, and pubescent. The stems are unbranched or branched above the middle. Leaves are opposite, petiolate, lanceolate to elliptic in outline, with serrate margins. The leaves are pubescent. Flowers are produced in a terminal head-like cyme subtended by several leaf-like bracts. The bracts may be colored. The corolla is 2-lipped. The upper lip is entire and the lower lip is 3 lobed. The corolla varies in color from white, to lavender, to light or dark pink. The fruit is a mericarp. Two varieties of Wild Bergamot occur in Alabama. Monarda fistulosa Linnaeus var. fistulosa has petioles and lower leaf surfaces pubescent with spreading hairs. Monarda fistulosa Linnaeus var. mollis (Linnaeus) Bentham has petioles and lower leaf surfaces pubescent with appressed hairs. Wild Bergamot is a popular native species. It is available from nurseries in a number of color forms. Wild Bergamot prefers well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Large clumps can be divided in the autumn, and addition plants can also be started from seed.--A. Diamond

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Native

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