wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) observed in Tennessee, US
iNaturalist: hmhendrix
Native Plants
Wild bergamot growing in Tennessee roadsides and meadows is a magnet for native bees, hummingbirds, and sphinx moths — plant it in a sunny border and you'll have pollinators from June through August without any supplemental watering once established.
Someone spotted and photographed wild bergamot — a beautiful, lavender-flowered native plant in the mint family — growing in Tennessee, and enough experts confirmed the identification to make it 'research-grade.' This plant is related to the bergamot used to flavor Earl Grey tea and has a long history of use by Indigenous peoples. Sightings like this help scientists and gardeners understand where native plants are thriving across the country.
Key Findings
A research-grade (expert-verified) observation of wild bergamot was documented in Tennessee, US
Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) is a native perennial herb in the mint family found across much of eastern and central North America
The observation was submitted to iNaturalist, contributing to the citizen-science database tracking native plant distributions
chevron_right Technical Summary
A research-grade observation of wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) was recorded in Tennessee, confirming the presence of this native prairie herb in the region through verified citizen-science documentation.
Abstract Preview
Research-grade observation of wild bergamot in Tennessee, US.
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Species Mentioned
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Monarda fistulosa, the wild bergamot or bee balm, is a wildflower in the mint family Lamiaceae, widespread and abundant as a native plant in much of North America. This plant, with showy summer-blooming pink to lavender flowers, is often used as a honey plant, medicinal plant, and garden ornament...