Key Features
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Plant Variety: Sweet Leaf Bergamot, a fragrant perennial herb in the mint family.
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Flower Colors: Lavender to pinkish-purple flowers arranged in distinctive rounded clusters.
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Plant Characteristics: Upright stems, aromatic leaves, and spreading growth through underground rhizomes.
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Garden Uses: Suitable for herb gardens, pollinator gardens, cottage gardens, and naturalized landscapes.
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Unique Appeal: Fragrant foliage and nectar-rich flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
Growing Benefits
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Herbal Gardening: Adds a traditional aromatic herb to home gardens.
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Pollinator Support: Provides nectar for bees and butterflies during flowering.
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Fragrant Foliage: Offers a pleasant herbal aroma when leaves are gently crushed.
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Perennial Growth: Returns in suitable climates and can spread gradually over time.
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Garden Beauty: Brings colorful blooms and natural charm to garden borders.
Seed Specifications
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Common Name: Sweet Leaf Bergamot, Wild Bergamot, 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 foliage
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Height: Typically two to four feet at maturity
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Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
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Soil: Well-drained soil, preferably moderately fertile
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Water: Moderate moisture; avoid prolonged waterlogging
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Germination Time: Often around ten to twenty-one days under favorable conditions
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Sowing Depth: Surface-sow or cover very lightly with soil
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Spacing: Approximately eighteen to twenty-four inches between plants
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Growing Zones: Generally USDA hardiness zones three through nine
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Flowering/Maturity: Summer flowering; mature plants may bloom from their second growing season
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Uses: Ornamental herb gardens, pollinator gardens, traditional herbal preparations, and fragrant foliage
Growing Tips
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Sow seeds in a sunny location with well-drained soil.
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Keep the seed-starting mix lightly moist until seedlings emerge.
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Thin crowded seedlings to allow good airflow and healthy growth.
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Remove faded flowers to encourage a tidy appearance and reduce unwanted self-seeding.
Seed Storage
Store unused seeds in a cool, dry, dark place. Keep them in a sealed, moisture-resistant container and protect them from heat and direct sunlight. Label the container with the plant name and storage date.
Unique Facts About Sweet Leaf Bergamot Seeds
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Mint Family Herb: Monarda fistulosa belongs to the mint family, Lamiaceae, along with basil, thyme, and oregano.
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Pollinator Favorite: Its nectar-rich flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
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Aromatic Foliage: The leaves contain fragrant essential oils that give the plant its distinctive herbal scent.
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Natural Spreader: Established plants can spread through underground rhizomes and may self-seed under suitable conditions.


