St. Mary of Vernon Catholic Church

This plant is the native cousin of the red cultivar, Bee Balm.

For a member of the mint family, the pink or lavender flowers are large and beautiful. The leaves exude an oreganomint scent. The blooming period lasts about a month during mid-summer. The plant sends up multiple stems giving it a bushy appearance. It likes sunny open areas and does best in moist rich soil.

The nectar of the flowers attracts bumble bees, bee flies, butterflies, skippers, and hummingbird moths. The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird also visits the flowers. The caterpillars of a fascinating moth, called the Hermit Sphinx, feed on the foliage. Animals usually avoid eating this plant, probably because of the oregano-mint taste and because it can cause indigestion.

Native Americans found many uses for this native plant. They cooked it with meat to add flavor, boiled it to make beverages, and chewed it to relieve headaches. The leaves were placed in warm water baths for babies.

Our two-year-old Wild Bergamots in the prairie garden path already look beautiful.