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Monarda fistulosa [ mo - NAR - da , fist - yoo - LOW - suh ] is commonly call wild bergamot , bee balm , horsemint , or wild oregano .
This herbaceous recurrent plant life is native to many portion of North America and belongs to the mint family , Lamiaceae .
It is named in pureness of botanist and doctor , Nicholas Monardes who was born in Seville in the belated fifteenth C and died in 1588 .
The specific name , fistulosa , refers to the radical , which is hollow and pipework - like .
In the wild , you will determine wild bergamot prime growing happily on the prairie , on the edges of glades , in jolty , dry woodlands , abandoned fields , and even along the side of the road or the verge of the railroad track .
More on Monarda
Monarda Fistulosa Wild Bergamot Care
Size & Growth
crazy bergamot aka Monarda fistulosa has redolent foliage and plants can originate from rhizome to be 2′ – 4′ feet gamy with a spread of 2′ – 3′ feet .
The stems of the monarda are straight and empty .
The leaves are grayish - green , oblong , and quite aromatic .
Flowering & Fragrance
This attractive wildflower blooms from mid - summertime until other autumn .
rosiness color is pink lavender and present a carefree , tousled appearance .
When the blooms first appear , they search like minor , square , immature bundle .
These green , leafy bract heart-to-heart to reveal flower clusters of small , tubular , two - lipped flowers .
The bergamot blossom is quite fragrant and showy and very attractive to hummingbird , butterfly and other pollinators as a intellectual nourishment root .
When the efflorescence go to seed , they are very attractive to Bronx cheer .
They make good dried flowers and perform well as slashed flowers .
Light & Temperature
Wild bergamot Monarda does well in setting ranging from partial shade to full sunlight .
It is winter hardy in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 9 .
Watering & Feeding
raging bergamot orange has medium moisture demand and does best when water deeply , occasionally . It will address some drouth conditions .
Use a slow - release liquid fertilizer at the beginning of the farm season .
Alternately , till finished compost into the land at clock time of planting and top dress with ruined compost and/or twist cast at the beginning of the acquire season .
Soil & Transplanting
Like most wildflowers , this plant does well in idle , well - debilitate land .
It can tolerate grime , which is blue on nutrient .
Bee Balm prefers soil , which is slightly acid to neutral ( pH 6 through 8) .
A bed of mulch over the soil will help oneself hold soil moisture .
Grooming & Maintenance
Throughout the growing season , deadhead the flower on a regular ground to encourage more blooming .
After the first frost in fall , cut the plant back to about 2″ column inch high .
How To Propagate Wild Bergamot
Plant Bee Balm from seed early on in the spring or late in the autumn .
As a member of the mint fellowship , Monarda punctata also grows quite nicely from cut .
Root the cuttings in a mixture of perlite steady down medium and sand , or simply place them in a glass of pee so novel root can mold .
This should happen fair quickly , within a few days .
Give the cuttings a week or so to develop full , strong origin , then transplant into a well - draining potting mix .
Fistulosa Monarda Pest or Diseases
If overcrowded , Monarda can have significant trouble with fungous contagion , such aspowdery mould .
rusting is also problematic if the plants are improperly cared for .
Excessive watering , soggy soil , deficiency of sunshine , and poor zephyr circulation will cause these problem .
Stressed works may also be subject to predation by thrips , spider mites , and/or stubble borers .
Conversely , providing good experimental condition will prevent most pests and diseases .
recollect to place your plants 18″ in to 2′ feet apart to control plenty of outer space for air circulation .
Do n’t irrigate too , and avert overhead watering .
Is Monarda Fistulosa Toxic or Poisonous?
Wild oregano ’s fragrant leaves are often used in raw teas , garnishes , and salads .
All part of the plant are safe to eat on .
Is The Monarda Plant Invasive?
This plant is aboriginal to North America and , therefore , can not be moot invading in North America . Even so , it ’s wise to keep in judgement it is an enthusiastic raiser and will happily circulate in its native habitat .
For this ground , you may care to take step to contain it in specific areas of your grand and garden .
Suggested Monarda Fistulosa Uses
Wild oregano was named the 2013 Notable Native Herb by the Herb Society of America and is also recommended as an addition to butterfly stroke garden by the North American Butterfly Association .
This various wildflower and it ’s many closemouthed cousin-german are pure denizens of your pollinator garden , rain garden , herb garden , or simply naturalized throughout your yard .
It ’s also a skilful idea to engraft this wild herb amongst your tomato plant and other garden vegetable because the roots force back hush-hush pests .
This amiable plant is quite a drouth - tolerant ; does well in all sorts of soil ; works plant under shameful walnut tree Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree without fear of injury , and is cervid resistant .
