Mint Family – Lamiaceae
Actual flower size:
Wild Bergamot is also called Bee Balm or Horsemint.
Plant Description: Wild Bergamot has 2 to 5 foot tall, erect stems that are unbranched, square, and coated with fine hairs. There is a roundish, compact cluster of pink or purplish flowers at the top of the stem. Beneath the flower head there is a cluster of leaf-like bracts, which are often pale green and sometimes tinted with pink. The leaves are opposite, lance-shaped, and 3 inches lon
Flower Description: The flowers are 1 to 1 1/2 inches long, very strongly cleft into two lips that open wide. The upper lip forms a long, narrow, curved hood and has two long stamens and an even longer pistil projecting from it. The lower lip is shallowly, 3-lobed.
Ecology: Wild Bergamot prefers moist soils, but will grow in dry open ground and sagebrush areas. (USDA lists Wild Bergamot as occurring in Washington, but some sources say it does not occur here.)
Note: Wild Bergamot is pollinated by butterflies and is noted for its fragrance.
Wild Bergamot Photo Gallery
Photo Information: Photos #3778, #3779, and #3780 were taken on August 2, 2005 and #3929 and #3931 were taken on September 5, 2005, all in Donna’s garden.
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