How to Grow Bergamot

Bergamot

Monarda didyma

flower

Bergamot is a vibrant perennial herb native to North America, known for its striking red, pink, purple, or scarlet tubular flowers arranged in shaggy, pompom-like heads. The plant grows 2-4 feet tall and produces aromatic foliage that attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. Both flowers and leaves have a distinctive citrus-mint scent and flavor, making them popular for teas, cooking, and ornamental garden displays.

Looking for a specific variety?

Scarlet Jacob Cline Raspberry Wine Violet Queen Panorama Red Coral Reef

Growing Conditions

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Sun: Full sun to part shade; 6+ hours of direct sunlight daily produces best flowering

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Water: Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged; provide 1-1.5 inches per week. Tolerates some drought once established but flowers better with regular watering. Water at soil level to reduce powdery mildew.

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Spacing: 18-24 inches apart inches

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Days to maturity: 60-90 days from transplant to first flowers

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Planting depth: Surface sow seeds (light-dependent germination); transplants at same depth as container

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil with moderate organic matter

pH: 6.0-7.0

Amendments:

Compost Peat moss or coconut coir Aged manure

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in USDA zones 3-9; prefers cooler climates but adapts well to most regions

3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a

Growth Stages

Seedling

2-3 weeks

Tiny cotyledons emerge; delicate, small true leaves appear within 1-2 weeks. Plants are fragile and require consistent moisture.

Keep soil evenly moist but not soggy. Provide bright, indirect light. Thin seedlings to 2-3 inches apart if crowded.

Vegetative Growth

4-6 weeks

Plant develops sturdy stems and increasingly fragrant, lance-shaped leaves. Height increases steadily; plant becomes bushy and robust.

Maintain consistent moisture and full sun exposure. Pinch back growing tips when 6-8 inches tall to encourage bushier form. Begin fertilizing every 2-3 weeks with balanced fertilizer.

Flowering

6-8 weeks

Distinctive pompom-like flower heads emerge at stem tips in red, pink, purple, or scarlet colors. Each head is composed of many tubular florets arranged in whorls.

Continue regular watering at soil level to prevent powdery mildew. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continued blooming. Support tall varieties with stakes if needed.

Peak Bloom & Pollinator Activity

4-6 weeks

Full flower heads attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. Multiple flower heads may open in succession along stems.

Avoid pesticides to protect pollinators. Continue deadheading for extended flowering. Monitor for powdery mildew on lower leaves in humid conditions.

Seed Set & Senescence

4-8 weeks

If flowers are not deadheaded, seed heads form. Foliage may decline in late season. Flowers fade and plants naturally slow growth.

Allow some flowers to set seed if you want self-sowing or seeds for next year. Cut back spent foliage in fall. Leave some seed heads for wildlife through winter.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Black-eyed Susan Coneflower Bee balm Salvia Lavender Gaura Yarrow Russian sage Daylily Coreopsis

Avoid planting near:

Plants requiring dry soil Fennel (allelopathic effects on many plants)

Common Pests

Water at soil level, improve air circulation, remove affected leaves, spray with sulfur or neem oil if severe. Plant resistant varieties like 'Jacob Cline' or 'Raspberry Wine'
Increase humidity and water spray on foliage; use insecticidal soap or neem oil; ensure adequate plant vigor
Spray with strong water stream; use insecticidal soap; encourage natural predators like ladybugs and lacewings
Hand-pick in early morning; use pheromone traps away from bergamot; apply neem oil if population is heavy
Spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap; use yellow sticky traps; improve air circulation around plants

Uses

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Herbal tea and beverage flavoring

Culinary

Bergamot leaves and flowers make a delicious mint-citrus tea with a pleasant floral note, often called Oswego tea. The flavor is reminiscent of Earl Grey tea due to similar citrus-mint compounds. [source]

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Salad garnish and edible flowers

Culinary

Vibrant flowers add color and a subtle citrus-mint flavor to salads, desserts, and cocktails. The blooms are completely edible and provide visual appeal. [source]

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Traditional herbal remedy

Medicinal

Bergamot tea has been used traditionally by Native Americans to support respiratory health and digestion. Contains compounds like thymol and carvacrol with antimicrobial properties. [source]

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Pollinator magnet

Wildlife

Bergamot is one of the most attractive plants for hummingbirds, butterflies, and native bees. Creates essential nectar sources in mid to late summer when other blooms are scarce. [source]

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Fragrant dried flowers and potpourri

Household

Dried flower heads retain their striking color and aromatic quality, perfect for dried flower arrangements, wreaths, and homemade potpourri. The scent is long-lasting. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

Harvest flowers when fully open for immediate use or drying; cut flower stems in the morning after dew dries. For fresh leaves, pinch or cut anytime during the growing season—tender young tips have the best flavor. For tea, harvest leaves and flowers in mid-morning after dew evaporates. Dry by hanging bunches upside down in an airy location away from direct sunlight, or use a dehydrator at low temperature. Fresh flowers are stunning as garnish and remain edible for several days in the refrigerator.

Fun Facts

🌱 Bergamot was called 'Oswego tea' by colonists in New York who learned to make tea from the plant from the Oswego Nation (Haudenosaunee people), and it became a patriotic substitute for English tea during the American Revolution.
🌱 The plant's shaggy, pompom-like flower heads are composed of hundreds of tiny tubular florets stacked in whorls, each capable of producing generous amounts of nectar that can keep a hummingbird fed for several minutes.
🌱 Bergamot is highly aromatic due to essential oils in its foliage—the plant's minty-citrus scent is so strong that simply brushing past it releases fragrance into the air, and the smell intensifies when leaves are crushed.

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