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Bergamot Wikimedia Commons
Lamiaceae

Bergamot

Monarda didyma

Compassion and vitality.

Family
Lamiaceae
Genus
Monarda
Native to
Eastern North America
Bloom season
Summer
Type
herbaceous perennial
Height
2-4 ft
Sunlight
full sun to part shade
Soil
Rich, moist, well-drained soil
Water
moderate
Hardiness
3-9
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • Bee balm tea was adopted by American colonists as a substitute after the Boston Tea Party of 1773.
  • The Oswego people taught colonists to brew tea from the plant, giving it the name Oswego tea.
  • Its tubular flowers are perfectly shaped for hummingbird pollination.
  • The plant contains thymol, a natural antiseptic also found in thyme, used historically to treat wounds.
  • Bergamot is named after the Italian city of Bergamo, though the plant is native to North America.

Color meanings

0

prosperity

1

protection

Uses

  • herbal tea
  • pollinator gardens
  • traditional medicine
  • culinary herb