Key Features
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Plant Variety: Lavender Bergamot, also known as wild bergamot or wild bee balm.
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Flower Color: Produces lavender to pinkish-purple flowers in attractive clusters.
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Plant Characteristics: Aromatic, herbaceous perennial with upright stems and fragrant foliage.
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Garden Uses: Suitable for herb gardens, cottage gardens, pollinator borders, and naturalized landscapes.
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Unique Appeal: Native North American wildflower valued for its aromatic leaves and nectar-rich blossoms.
Growing Benefits
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Pollinator Friendly: Flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinating insects.
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Herb Garden Appeal: Adds fragrant foliage and colorful blooms to home herb gardens.
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Natural Beauty: Creates a relaxed, cottage-garden atmosphere with its soft lavender flowers.
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Perennial Growth: Returns each growing season in suitable climates once established.
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Garden Variety: Combines ornamental flowers with traditional herbal garden interest.
Seed Specifications
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Common Name: Lavender Bergamot, Wild Bergamot, Wild Bee Balm
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Botanical Name: Monarda fistulosa
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Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial flowering herb
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Colors: Lavender to pinkish-purple flowers with green aromatic foliage
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Height: Typically two to four feet, depending on growing conditions
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Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
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Soil: Well-drained soil; tolerates a range of soil types
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Water: Moderate watering; established plants tolerate some drought
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Germination Time: Usually around ten to twenty-one days under suitable conditions
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Sowing Depth: Surface sow or cover lightly with a thin layer of soil
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Spacing: Approximately eighteen to twenty-four inches between plants
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Growing Zones: Generally USDA zones three through nine
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Flowering/Maturity: Blooms in summer, with flowering often beginning in the second growing season when started from seed
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Uses: Ornamental herb gardens, pollinator gardens, traditional herbal gardens, and naturalized landscapes
Growing Tips
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Sow seeds in a warm, bright location and keep the soil lightly moist.
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Choose a sunny garden spot with good drainage and air circulation.
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Space plants well to help reduce powdery mildew.
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Leave some mature seed heads standing to provide food and habitat for wildlife.
Seed Storage
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Store unused seeds in a cool, dry, dark place.
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Keep seeds in a sealed container protected from moisture.
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Label the container with the plant name and storage date.
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Avoid exposing seeds to heat or direct sunlight.
Unique Facts About the Seeds and Plant
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Mint Family Member: Wild bergamot belongs to the mint family, Lamiaceae.
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Pollinator Favorite: Its nectar-rich flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
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Aromatic Foliage: The leaves have a fragrant, minty aroma and have traditionally been used in teas.
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Distinctive Flowers: The tubular flowers grow in rounded clusters and feature two-lipped petals.


