A favorite among pollinators and gardeners alike, Wild Bergamot—commonly known as Bee Balm—is a showy native perennial with fragrant lavender-pink blooms that appear in midsummer. Growing 2–4 feet tall, it adds bold color, texture, and a delightful minty scent to native gardens, borders, and pollinator plantings.
Well-adapted to Northern Michigan (Zone 5a), Bee Balm thrives in full sun to partial shade and in dry to medium soils. Its nectar-rich flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, making it a powerhouse for pollinator support. As a member of the mint family, it spreads modestly by rhizomes and is deer-resistant.
Bloom Time: Mid to late summer
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Height: 2–4 ft
Soil: Dry to medium, well-drained
Wildlife: Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
Uses: Pollinator gardens, borders, meadows, herbal uses, cut flowers
A favorite among pollinators and gardeners alike, Wild Bergamot—commonly known as Bee Balm—is a showy native perennial with fragrant lavender-pink blooms that appear in midsummer. Growing 2–4 feet tall, it adds bold color, texture, and a delightful minty scent to native gardens, borders, and pollinator plantings.
Well-adapted to Northern Michigan (Zone 5a), Bee Balm thrives in full sun to partial shade and in dry to medium soils. Its nectar-rich flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, making it a powerhouse for pollinator support. As a member of the mint family, it spreads modestly by rhizomes and is deer-resistant.
Bloom Time: Mid to late summer
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Height: 2–4 ft
Soil: Dry to medium, well-drained
Wildlife: Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
Uses: Pollinator gardens, borders, meadows, herbal uses, cut flowers
