Bloom Color

Interesting Notes

Wild bergamot is a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae) that contains at least 3500 species worldwide. Lamium is an old Latin name of a nettle-like plant mentioned by Pliny. The family is noted for its fragrant oils (lavender, rosemary, mint, horehound, thyme etc). Monarda is a North American genus of about 15-20 species of which only one occurs in North Dakota. The genus was dedicated by Linnaeus to Nicolas Monardes (1493-1588), Spanish physician-botanist and author of many tracts about useful New World plants. The specific name fistulosa means "tubular" in botanical Latin, in reference to the flowers. The species was named by the famous Swedish botanist Carl von Linne (Linnaeus) in his monumental Species Plantarum of 1753, the earliest accepted work on modern plant taxonomy. http://www.holoweb.com/cannon/wild1.htm

Growing and Maintenance Tips

'Dark Ponticum' prefers dry to moist, organically rich, well-drained soil in full to part sun. More prolific in full sun. Needs good air circulation. Has creeping rhizomes that form slowly expanding clumps. Best used in wild gardens or in naturalized areas.