The wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) is a common native wildflower in our area and often can be found along roadsides and areas of land that have reverted back to their wild state (aka: feral fields).
Also known as purple bee balm, Oswego tea, and horsemint, wild bergamot was named for the Spanish physician Dr. Monarda, who studied the plant for its medicinal uses in the 1500s. “Fistulosa” means tube shaped in Latin, and the name describes its tubular petals.
Wild bergamot belongs to the mint family of plants, which is known for having square stems. It prefers dry fields of sandy loam or clay soils and grows 2 to 4 feet tall. From July to September, the deep pink to purple, 1.5-inch-wide flowers bloom in clumps at the top of the erect stems. The deep green, 2-to-3-inch long, narrow-toothed leaves grow opposite of each other along the stem…