White Bergamot Monarda clinopodia
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- mo-NAR-da kly-no-POH-dee-ah
- Description
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White Bergamot is a member of the mint family and is native to eastern and central USA. In NC it is found primarily in the mountains in moist woods, thickets, ravines, lightly shaded mountain hillsides, on the edge of woodlands, or on lightly shaded meadows. In the states of New Jersey and New York, it is considered to be endangered.
It is an excellent pollinator plant and attracts bee, bumblebees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. This species is deer resistant, fast-growing and may be somewhat weedy. The flower is mildly fragrant, somewhat showy and blooms from May to September with the blooms lasting about 2-3 weeks. It may be propagated by seeds in the fall, winter, or early spring. Rootball division is best done in the spring as new growth emerges.
The genus, Monarda, was named for a 16th-century physician and botanist, Nicolas Bautista Monardes of Spain. Although he never came to North America, he studied medicinal plants.
Plant in full sun to partial shade in moist well-drained soils. Use in a naturalized area, at woodland edges, or in native/pollinator gardens. This plant will do best in the cooler summers of the mountains.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: The plant is mostly free of pests and diseases. It has good powdery mildew resistance but allow good airflow around it.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Monarda
- Species:
- clinopodia
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Native Americans used the plant to treat a variety of ailments.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern U.S.A
- Distribution:
- AL , CT , DC , DE , IL , IN , KY , MA , MD , MI , MO , NC , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , SC , TN , VA , VT , WV
- Wildlife Value:
- Attractive to bees, bumblebees, butterflies, and hummingbirds for nectar and pollination.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
- Edibility:
- Fresh or dried leaves and flower heads of this plant may be brewed to make tea.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Once the flower fades and the petals drop off, a brown seed head develops. It is best to allow the seed heads to dry on the plant and then collect the seeds. The seeds are brown, smooth, and very small.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Tepals
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The flower is mildly fragrant, and the flower head grows at the end of the unbranched or branched stems. The flower head is 2 inches wide and has many individual blossoms. The bloom is about 1 inch long, and its color is white to creamy white with purple spots on the lower lip and has a narrower upper lip. There are 4 tepals that fuse into a pubescent tube from which 1-2 stamens and the pistils extend. Can bloom May to Sept.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are green, simple, opposite in arrangement, ovate shaped, veined, and have shallowly toothed margins. The leaf measures 5-6 inches long and 1.5 inches wide.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Square stems, petioles are red and smooth. There are a few hairs on the upper petioles. The upper stem may be slightly hairy.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Problems:
- Weedy
