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Monarda fistulosa var. menthifolia
Once common across eastern North America, now almost gone. It feeds on wild bergamot and asters, flowers any yard can grow.
⚠ Supports a species at riskWho this brings back
Supports 8 species at risk.
The bees it relies on need these same native blooms. Plant for one, and you feed both.
A bird that once nested on every farm, now threatened. Native plants feed the flying insects it catches on the wing.
It feeds entirely on flying insects. Every native flowering patch is more food in the air it hunts.
It perches on tall spruces and sallies out to catch flying insects. Native blooms keep its prey in the air.
It needs goldenrod and asters to fatten up before winter. The late-summer blooms most gardens are missing.
Its slow 'pee-a-wee' call is heard less each year. It needs the flying insects native plants support.
Our native ladybugs are being pushed out. Native plants give them aphids to hunt and cover to overwinter.
Photos: Photo by Ivar Leidus, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo by Malene Thyssen, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo by John, CC BY 2.0 · Photo by Mike's Birds, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Photo by Judy Gallagher, CC BY 2.0 · Photo by Dan Pancamo, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Photo by Hectonichus, CC BY-SA 3.0
About Wild Bergamot
Flowers appear June to September, in shades of lavender & pink. Does best in full sun with dry to medium soil. Mature plants stand 30–90 cm tall. Supports bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Deer tend to leave it alone.
Other plants the Rusty-patched Bumble Bee needs