Wild Bergamot (Bee Balm)

Monarda fistulosa    Approximately 50 seeds per pack. Germination ~ 62% March 2025 Origins and History Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) is a North American native in the mint family (Lamiaceae), long valued by Indigenous communities and later adopted into settler gardens for its fragrance, beauty, and practical household uses. Unlike many “heirloom” crops that were intensively domesticated for larger fruits or seeds, Wild Bergamot’s heirloom story is mainly about selection and stewardship—people repeatedly choosing plants with especially aromatic leaves, strong stems, abundant blooms, and reliable regrowth for home gardens, pollinator plantings, and herb use. Over generations, this human preference helped spread and maintain favored local strains while the plant remained close to its wild form, thriving across prairies, open woods, and dry-to-medium soils. Appearance and Characteristics Wild Bergamot forms upright clumps about 2–4 feet tall, with opposite, fragrant leaves (often des