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Native Plant Society of Texas

Beebalm

Monarda fistulosa

Other common name(s):

Wild Bergamot

Family:

Lamiaceae (Mint Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Carbonate Cross Timbers, Eastern Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie, Limestone Cut Plain, Western Cross Timbers
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, Northern Post Oak Savanna, Northern Prairie Outliers, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

2
to
4
ft.

Spread

.5
to
1
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Rocky, Moist, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Grassland, Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

White, Pink, Purple

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer

Seasonal Interest

Seeds, Nectar, Pollen

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Birds, Hummingbirds, Bees

Maintenance

Very easy to grow and often forms large colonies. Grows on a variety of soils. Spreads easily under optimum growing conditions. All Monarda species are susceptible to powdery mildew. Give good drainage and air circulation as a preventative measure. Propagation: root division, seed.

Comments

Blooms May-October. Produces oval to lance-shaped leaves, hairy, serrated edges, with minty fragrant minty. The pink flowers resemble loose pompoms. It often occurs in large masses. The fruit is a brown nutlet.

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) Miller, George O., Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas 2nd Ed., 2013, pg 48, 53. 3) Wasowski and Wasowski, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region, 1991, pg. 198. 4) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=MOFI. 5) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Monarda+fistulosa&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 6) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=13480&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 7) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=565311#null, 8) Native and Adapted Landscape Plants, City of Austin and Texas A&M, 2014, 9) https://seedsource.com/bergamot/

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Stem Division Remove the lower leaves and all flower or seed heads and insert the stems into a sand and perlite-rooting medium. Bury each cutting up to the first node. Place the cuttings in an enclosed area and mist them several times a day. In 4 to 5 weeks the cuttings should be well rooted and can be transplanted to pots. Then outplant the plants in the garden in the early autumn. Take stem tip cuttings, 3-4 inches long, any time from May to August. 1) chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/cs_mofi.pdf 2) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=MOFI 3) https://warcapps.usgs.gov/PlantID/Species/Details/2628#:~:text=Propagation%20by%20seeds%20is%20easy,and%20fertilizing%20(Phillips%201985). 4) https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Monarda+fistulosa#:~:text=Plant%20Propagation,late%20spring%20or%20early%20summer.
Seed Stratification 5 month outdoor stratification for material grown in the Outdoor Nursery. A 30 day cold moist stratification was used in the refrigerator for greenhouse grown material. This species is reported to have up to a 97% germination rate in the presence of light. Media is kept slightly moist during germination. Initial germination appeared uniform and occurred following several days of temperatures at 70 degrees F or above during the day. Root and shoot development occurs rapidly following germination. 4 to 6 true leaves were evident 3 weeks after germination. Plants reached root tightness in containers in 3 months. Seeds are hand collected in fall when capsules turn tan and papery. Seeds are black at maturity. Capsules are collected in paper bags and are kept in a well ventilated drying shed prior to cleaning. Seeds ripen 2 months after plant blooms. 1) https://npn.rngr.net/renderNPNProtocolDetails?selectedProtocolIds=lamiaceae-monarda-95#:~:text=Ecotype:,refrigerator%20for%20greenhouse%20grown%20material. 2) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=MOFI 3) https://warcapps.usgs.gov/PlantID/Species/Details/2628#:~:text=Propagation%20by%20seeds%20is%20easy,and%20fertilizing%20(Phillips%201985).
Seed No Treatment Seeds can also be broadcast on a weed-free surface from January to mid-May in sunny locations. Once the seeds germinate seedlings should be watered during extended dry period. During the first summer of full growth mow the area 3 to 5 times to keep the plants between 8 and 4 inches tall. Mowing also reduces weeds. 1) chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/cs_mofi.pdf 2) https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Monarda+fistulosa#:~:text=Plant%20Propagation,late%20spring%20or%20early%20summer.
Clump Division Large divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer. https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Monarda+fistulosa#:~:text=Plant%20Propagation,late%20spring%20or%20early%20summer.

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason