Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) is in the Mint Family family (Lamiaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 5,358 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.
Nationally it blooms mainly from July to July, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Wild Bergamot: observations by month (U.S.)
About Wild Bergamot
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 ornamental. The species is quite variable, and several subspecies or varieties have been recognized within it.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Wild Bergamot by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | 733 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Ohio | 562 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Minnesota | 511 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Illinois | 457 | July | Jul–Aug |
| New York | 366 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Oklahoma | 242 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Pennsylvania | 223 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Michigan | 215 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Kentucky | 197 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Virginia | 185 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Iowa | 181 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Indiana | 168 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Vermont | 137 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Colorado | 109 | July | Jul–Jul |
| New Jersey | 104 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Massachusetts | 103 | July | Jul–Aug |
| North Carolina | 91 | July | Jun–Aug |
| New Mexico | 78 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Mississippi | 74 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Maryland | 66 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Arkansas | 57 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Missouri | 53 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Connecticut | 45 | July | Jul–Aug |
| South Dakota | 39 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Tennessee | 39 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Alabama | 37 | May | May–Jul |
| North Dakota | 33 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Texas | 29 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Georgia | 28 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Maine | 25 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Montana | 24 | July | Jul–Jul |
| New Hampshire | 24 | August | Jul–Aug |
| West Virginia | 24 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Kansas | 23 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Nebraska | 18 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Wyoming | 15 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Arizona | 14 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Rhode Island | 11 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Louisiana | 8 | June | May–Jun |
| Delaware | 6 | July | Jul–Jul |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Mint Family)
Red Deadnettle
Common Selfheal
Ground-Ivy
Henbit Deadnettle
Lyreleaf Sage
Chia
American germander
Vinegar Weed
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Wild Bergamot?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from July to July.
Where is Wild Bergamot most often seen?
The most observations come from Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota.