Native Perennial
Sun Exposure: Full, Partial
Soil Moisture: Dry to Medium-Wet
Soil Type: Thrives in a wide range of soils: acid to lime, rich to poor, sand to clay
Height: 4'
Bloom Time: July through September
Bloom Color: Lavender, pink
Resistance: Deer, Drought, Black Walnut
Attracts: Butterflies, bees, hummingbirds
Pollinator benefit: Excellent nectar source
---
Beebalm or Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) has a lovely violet blossom and distinctively aromatic foliage. It is native to most of North America and a familiar component of prairie and savanna communities on all but the wettest of soils.
Its species name, fistulosa, refers to the tube-like structure of its blossoms, which appear from mid to late summer, nicely complementing nearby yellow composite flowers, like Rudbeckia, Silphium, and Helianthus.
The flowers and leaves of this plant are edible and used for teas and seasoning. Indigenous peoples had many medicinal uses for Beebalm: poultices for boils and lacerations, as well as tea infusions for headaches, indigestion, colds, and the flu.
Info from www.prairiemoon.com and www.wildflower.org