Bee Balm

Beebalm/Monarda

(also called bergamot, horsemint, Oswego tea) 

Monarda spp. 

Several Monarda species are native to North America.  They are in the mint family, and have a square stem, and pleasant fragrance.  All have been used medicinally historically, but only M. fistulosa is currently found in the retail herb trade.  This Monarda is native to much of N. America, from the Great Plains and eastward.  It is 2-3 feet tall, with pink/lavender flowers.  M. didyma can have reddish flowers, and many cultivated varieties of M. didyma are found in garden catalogs.  It is native to wetter areas of the eastern N. America.  M. punctata is a biennial or short lived perennial, found on drier soils in the eastern half of N. America.  It has yellowish, purple-dotted flowers in tiered whorls.  M. bradburiana, common name “White Horsemint,” has white/rose flowers with prominent purple dots, and is found on rocky wooded hills in the Great Plains and midwestern states.  Only two of the species, M. fistulosa, and M. didyma, were compared in our field trials. 

Family:  Mint family
Life cycle: herbaceous perennial (Zones 4-9)
Native:  North America.
Height: 2-4 feet.
Sun:   Prefers full sun, will tolerate partial shade.
Soil:   M. fistulosa likes dry, well-drained soil, and M. punctata prefers loose, sandy, drier soil, while M. didyma prefers rich soil and fair moisture.  Note:  our field trials included M. fistulosa and M. didyma, but not M. punctata, though it is also grown as a medicinal herb.
Water:  M. fistulosa appears to handle drought well, but M. didyma does not.
Flowers:  Red, lavender, pinkish lavender, yellow, or pink- and purple spotted flowers bloom early to late summer in most regions.  Depends on the species and bio-type.
Propagation:  Can grow from seeds, cuttings, or root divisions.  Monarda seed does not require any cold treatment.  Cover seeds 2 times their thickness.  Will take about 9 days to germinate.
Pests:  Significant pest pressure was not identified in the field, but M. didyma declined rapidly under field conditions.  It is possible that some of this was due to disease, but also simply that this species is not well adapted to the hot, dry conditions of this part of the Great Plains.
Harvesting:   Harvest aerial parts at any time during the growing season.
Parts used: Above ground aerial parts, fresh or dried.
Used as:  Can be used as a culinary substitute for Greek Oregano.  An oil derived from Bergamot adds the distinctive flavor to “Earl Grey” tea.  Most commonly prepared as an infusion (tea).
Medicinal Benefits:   The Herbal PDR lists M. punctata and M. didyma, but not M. fistulosa, which is the Monarda species most used by the Native Americans, and probably the best one to grow in the Great Plains.  M. punctata contains volatile oils, and has a carminative, stimulant, and emmenagogic effects.  Folk uses for digestive disorders, flatulence, and to regulate menstruation.  M. didyma also contains volatile oils, and also flavonoids and anthocyans, and is used for the same things as M. punctata, and is also used for PMS.  The essential oil may also be used as part of the treatment for chronic bronchitis.  The Lakotas drank a tea from the flower clusters of M. fistulosa as a remedy for fevers and colds.  A tea from the leaves was also used for whooping cough, and also considered good for people who had fainted.  Boiled leaves, wrapped in a soft cloth and placed on sore eyes overnight were used to relieve pain.
Market Potential:   Low to moderate, but increasing.  Current retail price ranges from $9.79 to $23.61 per lb dw for tops.

KSU Field Trial Data - 2000-2002.  

KSU Field Trial Data - 2000-2002.

Summary of field trial data:  Only two species were tested in field trials, primarily due to the availability of seed.  The “wild” type of Bergamot - M. fistulosa, did well at both test sites, and over the three years increased in plant number as the clumps spread, and also increased in weight per plant.  Insect and disease ratings were low, and the vigor ratings, especially after the first year, were above average; 4.2 and 4.5 for the 2^nd and 3^rd years respectively. This appears to be a crop well adapted to the Great Plains.  The yield estimate of 3000 lb dw per acre may be a little bit high, as this assumes cutting off the plant at ground level, and a marketable crop may be limited to more leaves, and fewer stems.  However, this is a crop that appears to have potential, as long as a market is obtained.

  On the other hand, M. didyma, which is native to eastern North America, and often cultivated in flower gardens, did not appear to be well adapted to field conditions.  Vigor ratings were 2.5 and 1.3 in years one and two, and the plants had basically died by the end of year three.  This species was only tested at one site, Wichita, which is a sandy soil, but had some irrigation.  Another problem with M. didyma is that though local herbalists recommend it over M. fistulosa for certain uses, there appears to be no market price listed in any of the retail sources checked so far.  In fact, M. Fistulosa was only listed by two companies, so Bergamot does not to be a widely used herb at this point.  M. bradburiana and M. punctata were not tested in our field trials, and would probably be considered wild flowers, so seed would need to be obtained from the wild, or from wildflower catalogs.  These two species also did not show up on any retail herb price lists.