Wild Bergamot (Bee Balm)

(24-48″ tall x 24-36″ wide) The intriguing blossoms of Wild Bergamot Bee Balm burst forth from their buds into clusters of nectar-rich, tubular flowers held aloft by a ring of showy bracts. True to its name, the plant’s purple-pink flowers are magnet for bees and many other pollinators. Wild Bergamot is easy to grow, adaptable, and readily spreads to form large swaths. You’ll have so many flowers from midsummer into fall that the bees won’t mind if you cut a few to jazz up indoor arrangements. Healthy leaves or flowers can be used to make tea. This deer-resistant perennial is native to the states east of the Rocky Mountains, and thrives in all but the hottest, driest regions. It prefers full sun to part shade and tolerates a range of soils  from dry to moist. A charming addition to herb gardens, meadow plantings, cottage gardens, or perennial flower beds.