Whether you call it bee balm, monarda, bergamot, or Oswego tea, this plant is great for bringing pollinators to the garden. Blossoms reminiscent of fireworks in a variety of colors mean more than just pollinators enjoy these blooms!
Vigorous growth and a long bloom time also make this plant a standout in any garden setting.
The many additional uses of different parts of the plant make them handy to have around. Monarda is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae.
The genus is endemic to North America. Common names include bee balm, horse-mint, oswego tea, and bergamot, the latter inspired by the fragrance of the leaves, which is reminiscent of bergamot orange (Citrus bergamia).