SCIENTIFIC NAME: Monarda fistulosa
COMMON NAME: Wild Bergamot, Bee Balm, Eastern Bergamot, Oswego Tea, Mintleaf Bergamot
BLOOM TIME: June, Aug, Sept
INSECT/ANIMAL INTERACTIONS:
- A small black bee (Beebalm shortface) specializes in the pollination of Monarda flowers.
- This means that Monardas are most likely the only plants this bee will visit.
- The flowers attracts bees, bee flies, butterflies, skippers, & hummingbird moths.
- Mammalian herbivores usually avoid this plant as a food source, probably because of the oregano-mint flavor of the leaves & their capacity to cause indigestion.