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Monarda didyma - L.

Common Name Bergamot, Scarlet beebalm, Horsemint, Oswego Tea, Bee Balm
Family Lamiaceae or Labiatae
USDA hardiness 4-10
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Moist soils[235] in rich woods, thickets and bottom lands[43].
Range Eastern N. America - New York to Michigan, south to Georgia and Tennessee.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Monarda didyma Bergamot, Scarlet beebalm, Horsemint, Oswego Tea, Bee  Balm


Monarda didyma Bergamot, Scarlet beebalm, Horsemint, Oswego Tea, Bee  Balm
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Summary

Bloom Color: Lavender, Pink, Purple, Red, White. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Early fall, Late summer, Mid summer. Form: Upright or erect.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Monarda didyma is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.9 m (3ft) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf from April to October, in flower from June to September, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. The plant is self-fertile.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers  Leaves  Shoots
Edible Uses: Condiment  Tea

Leaves and young shoot tips - raw or cooked. They are used as a flavouring in salads, fruit salads, drinks etc[46, 61, 105, 183]. Flowers - raw. They are added as an attractive garnish to salads[183, 238, 244]. An excellent aromatic tea is made from the fresh or dried leaves and flower heads[21, 46, 105, 183]. The leaves give an Earl Grey flavour to China tea[238].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Anthelmintic  Carminative  Diuretic  Expectorant  Febrifuge  Rubefacient  Stimulant  Urinary


Bergamot is often used as a domestic medicine, being particularly useful in the treatment of digestive disorders. The leaves and flowering stems are anthelmintic, carminative, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge, rubefacient and stimulant[4, 222]. An infusion is used in the treatment of flatulent colic and sickness, it is also used as a diuretic to treat urinary disorders[4, 238]. The leaves can be harvested before the plant flowers, or they can be harvested with the flowering stems. They can be used fresh or dried[238]. An essential oil from the herb is mainly used externally as a rubefacient in the treatment of rheumatism etc[4].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Companion  Essential  Pot-pourri

Landscape Uses: Border, Container, Massing, Rock garden, Specimen. Attracts birds, North American native, Edible, Fragrant foliage, Invasive, Naturalizing, Attracts butterflies, Suitable for cut flowers, Suitable for dried flowers, Fragrant flowers. Yields an essential oil, used in perfumery, as a hair tonic etc[46, 61]. The dried leaves and flowers are used to scent and add colour to pot-pourri[238]. Brings hummingbirds.

Special Uses

Attracts Wildlife  Food Forest  Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Easily grown in ordinary garden soil so long as it is not too dry[1, 200]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Requires a moist soil and a sunny position[4, 200]. Prefers some shade[4] but succeeds in a sunny position so long as the soil does not dry out. Provide light shade in hotter zones. Plants are hardy to at least -25°c[187]. The flowers are rich in nectar and are very attractive to bees[4, 55, 244]. A good companion plant, it grows well with tomatoes[14, 20]. Bergamot is a very ornamental and aromatic plant, it is often grown in the herb garden, there are some named varieties[183, 233]. The leaves, stems and roots carry a delicious aromatic orange-like perfume when crushed[245]. Plants are subject to mildew in dry summers[200]. Special Features: The plant is heat tolerant in zones 10 through 1. (Plant Hardiness Zones show how well plants withstand cold winter temperatures. Plant Heat Zones show when plants would start suffering from the heat. The Plant Heat Zone map is based on the number of "heat days" experienced in a given area where the temperature climbs to over 86 degrees F (30°C). At this temperature, many plants begin to suffer physiological damage. Heat Zones range from 1 (no heat days) to 12 (210 or more heat days). For example Heat Zone. 11-1 indicates that the plant is heat tolerant in zones 11 through 1.) For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a runner spreading indefinitely by rhizomes or stolons [1-2]. The root pattern is rhizomatous with underground stems sending roots and shoots along their length [1-2].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Seed - sow mid to late spring in a cold frame. Germination usually takes place within 10 - 40 days at 20°c. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer. The seed can also be sown in situ in late summer in areas where the winters are not too severe and will produce larger plants. Cuttings of soft basal shoots in spring. Harvest the shoots with plenty of underground stem when they are about 8 - 10cm above the ground. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer. Division in spring or autumn. Very easy, large divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Sweet Bergamot. Bee Balm

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Monarda citriodoraLemon Bergamot, Lemon beebalm. Lemon MintAnnual/Perennial0.6 5-9 FLMHSNM203
Monarda clinopodiaWhite Basil-Balm, White bergamotPerennial1.3 4-8  LMHSNM10 
Monarda fistulosaWild Bergamot, Mintleaf bergamot, Wild Bee-Balm, LupinePerennial1.5 4-10 MLMHNDM322
Monarda menthifoliaMint-Leaved Bergamot, Mintleaf bergamotPerennial0.8 3-7  LMHSNM12 
Monarda pectinataPlains Lemon Monarda, Pony beebalmAnnual/Perennial1.0 0-0  LMHNDM120
Monarda punctataHorse Mint, Spotted beebalmAnnual/Perennial0.8 5-9  LMHSNDM131

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

43200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

   Wed Oct 18 2006

hi my name is Ali at the U of Regina Canada, you site is wonderful and very useful, It has been very useful to me and to my project for biology, I have one question, is there is caution for the use of this plant, Monarda didyma, polygala senega-L, menthe arvensis, red osier dogwood. If you could please write me back and tell me those, please and thank you, and best luck and wish for you and your research. your sincerely Ali Waissi

sfh dfhs   Sun Jun 8 2008

kjhgfd lovely

Flora Norm   Mon Jun 9 2008

This perennial attractive to ruby throated hummingbirds and bees!

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