Wild Bergamot, Monarda fistula, Bee Balm, 1/4 gram seeds
About one thousand seeds per gram. A favorite herb for teas, a favorite flower for bees, and a favorite for herb gardens. Bergamot (also called Horse-mint) is a perennial sporting lavender flowers and a lovely aroma. Zones 3-8, half shade to full sun, reaching four feet. Wild Bergamot can be planted in spring, on bare soil, and will germinate without stratification.
Native to most of North America, it was used among indigenous peoples for medicine. These include poultices for boils and lacerations, as well as tea infusions for headaches, indigestion, and colds and flu.
Wild Bergamot is a favorite of butterflies, bees and hummingbirds. Its species name, fistulosa, refers to the tube-like structure of its blossoms, which appear from July through September.