Bergamot Bee Balm

I have to write about at least one more herb this summer and this one is probably one of the most useful!

This plant is known as “wild bergamot” (not to be confused with the bergamot orange that is used for earl gray tea) or “wild bee balm” and occasionally as
“wild oregano”.

Wild bergamot is mostly famous for its benefits as a pollinator plant, but there are so many amazing uses for it that everyone should take advantage of at the same time so let’s check it out!

Plant Profile:

Scientific Name: Monarda fistulosa

Preferred Habitat: Meadows, grasslands, often growing next to coneflowers, yarrow, and echinacea.

Edible Parts: Entire plant is safe to consume, but typically only the flowers and leaves are used.

Distribution: Significant range extending from most of the eastern US up into the western territories of Canada

Harvest Season: Early summer through

Key Identifiers: Distinct tubular petals on square stems that stand about 3-4ft tall, and opposite alternating leaf pattern typical of anything in the mint family. The sure-fire sign is that it smells strongly of oregano or thyme when torn or bruised.

Toxic Look-Alikes: Any other bee balm could potentially be confused with wild bergamot, but these are nearly all edible and safe to consume. I would do specific research on your area to ensure that other bee balms are all completely safe, however I don’t know of any that are inedible.

Medicinal Benefits:

• Anti-septic

• Anti-bacterial

• Anti-microbial

• Anti-spasmodic

• Anti-inflammatory

• Diuretic

• Expectorant

• Fights UTIs

• Fights fungal infections

• Eases lung congestion

• Eases bronchitis

• Promotes digestion

• Soothes sore throats

• Treats flu, cold, and fever

• Treats wounds and burns

• Fights tooth and mouth infections

• Treats yeast infections

• Clears congested sinuses

• Emmenagogue effects

• Eases nervous tension

Uses

Bergamot bee balm is mainly a medicinal herb but also has some great culinary qualities.

Use it like you would use thyme or oregano, add to pestos, or as a flavor in soups and savory dishes.

For medicine the plant is mainly taken as a tea, tincture, oxymel, balm, or steamed for inhalation depending on the ailment. I would also consider adding it to vinegars and homemade cough syrups!

Unlike most other plants we talk about, there are actually some general dosage recommendations (mostly because it has such an intense and concentrated flavor, not safety reasons).

Tea: Up to 2 flower heads and some leaves in 16oz of water, take a few times per day as needed.

Tincture: No more than 20-30 drops in a little water 1-4x daily (I would avoid giving a tincture to children unless it’s a non-alcoholic tincture)

Inhalation: 5-6 flowers in a stock pot full of water, use steam inhalation methods 1-3x daily until symptoms improve. If it feels too spicy then take a break or do less each day.

Syrup: 4oz of crushed dried flowers and/or leaves, 2qts of water, 22oz of honey, take twice daily (although more as needed won’t hurt).

I have seen anecdotal reports that having it while breastfeeding can help babies sleep better at night, but it is also in the mint family and many members of the family are not recommended for breastfeeding since they can dry up your supply.

Also, avoid while pregnant since it can dry up mucous membranes a little too much.

Growth Habits

Wild bergamot thrives in many different soil types and can grow well in full sun or partial shade. It also does well in moist, dry, or wet soils and overall doesn’t seem picky at all.

This is one plant that I doubt you’ll have issues growing if you’re within the natural range of the plant, though sometimes powdery mildew can be a problem. (I have yet to come across a patch that is suffering from powdery mildew).

Wild bergamot is also a perennial herb and a pollinator plant which means it will return each year to give you pretty blooms and provide for hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.

Other than that, there’s nothing special to note!

Additional Information

Wild bergamot smells and tastes kind of like oregano and thyme, but is kind of its own unique flavor at the same time.

Despite being called “bergamot” this is NOT the same plant that you find in Earl Gray tea known as the “bergamot orange” (which is a fruit).

The plant is also called “horsemint” which I kind of like but I’m not sure why it’s called that either.

Cultivars

There are many cultivars of closely related bee balms such as M. didyma and M. punctata (We have 5 in Michigan including those two) but I can’t find many of M. fistolosa. Here is what I could find:

• Claire’s Grace - M. fistolosa, This is a lighter colored high performing variety of wild bergamot that is resistant to disease.

• Wild Bergamot - These are just seeds of the wild native strains

• Marshall’s Delight - A darker magenta variety of M. didyma

• Raspberry Wine - A deep red-pink variety of M. didyma

• Pink Frosting - A lush pink variety of M. didyma with dark green foliage

• Bee Free™ - A deep pink with dark centers and foliage, a very pretty cross between Monarda species.

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