Bergamot, Lemon (Monarda citriodora)

Lemon mint, lemon beebalm, lemon horsemint, purple horsemint or lemon bergamot, is a hardy annual (sometimes biennial) that is typically found in rocky or sandy prairies, pastures and roadsides from South Carolina and Florida west to Missouri, Texas and Mexico.

The lance shaped mid green leaves have a distinctive citrus or lemony scent when the leaves are rubbed or crushed. Several stems grow from a compact clump and between the leaves whorled flower heads of fragrant lavender, lilac to pink flowers arise from June to August to a height of 3 feet. Flowers are attractive to bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, particularly when massed. Leaves have a distinctive lemony aroma when rubbed. Some monardas are commonly called beebalm in reference to a prior use of the leaves as a balm for bee stings.

Genus name honors Nicholas Monardes (1493-1588), physician and botanist of Seville.

Specific epithet comes from Latin and means having a citrus aroma.. Hardy to Zones 2-11.