Wild bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
Lavender pompoms for bees and a spicy leaf for tea.
Hardiness: zones 3 to 9
Light: full sun to part shade
Size: about 3 ft tall, 2 ft wide
Harvest: July to August
From: North America
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: food, pollinators, butterfly and moth caterpillars, traditional use.
Native to: Northeast, Southeast, Midwest & Great Lakes, Great Plains & Texas, Rockies & Great Basin, Eastern Canada, Western Canada. Hardy in zones 3 to 9.
The story
Native to Ohio and much of North America. Its leaves were used as a substitute for tea after the Boston Tea Party.
Planting
Sun to part shade. Soil: moist (pH 6.0–7.0). Spacing: 18 in. Pollination: insect-pollinated; bees and hummingbirds.
Growing
Water: moderate. Winter: Leave stems for insects. Spring: Divide every 3 years. Summer: Hummingbird and bee magnet. Fall: Cut back if mildewed.
Harvest and use
Harvest: Leaves for tea. First crop: perennial.
What to watch for
Powdery mildew.
Safety
Medicinal uses here are shared as history, not advice. Kitchen amounts are fine for most people, but teas, tinctures and supplements can interact with medicines and aren't safe for everyone, especially in pregnancy, while breastfeeding, for children, or with liver or kidney problems. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before taking any plant as medicine.
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More native and wild plants
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home