Monarda didyma

Bergamot

If you want hummingbirds and butterflies in your garden, this is the plant to grow! Its deep crimson colour attracts nearly everything in the business of dealing pollen. Bergamot—also called bee balm—is part of the mint family (Lamiaceae). It shouldn’t be mistaken for the Bergamot orange used in Earl Grey tea, though it does smell very similar. It also shouldn’t be confused with lemon balm (see page 187), which is also in the Lamiaceae family.

Health Benefits

If you rub the leaves of bergamot you’ll smell the unmistakable aroma of lemon, a result of the high amount of medicinal oils (including thymol) found in this plant. Bergamot tea has been traditionally used to treat premenstrual syndrome, as it has antispasmodic (muscle relaxing) effects. It is now primarily used for digestive disorders and as an antiseptic. The tea has carminative properties, which means it can prevent the formation of gas in the gastrointestinal tract. It may also be a mild diuretic and has been used to decrease fever.

DIFFICULTY

Medium

HARDINESS

Perennial in zones 3 to 9

TIME TO PLANT

Spring through fall

TIME TO HARVEST

Summer

LOCATION

Full to part sun

SOIL TYPE

Any

Growing

A traditional border plant in the perennial garden, bergamot offers aromatic blooms in several colours, including white, pink, and red. You can cut the blooms and enjoy them in a vase, but I prefer to leave them in the garden to attract bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies. The challenge with bergamot is its susceptibility to disease, especially powdery mildew, although resistant varieties are now available.

Common Varieties: Heirloom varieties include ‘Cambridge Scarlet’, ‘Croftway Pink’, ‘Granite Pink’, and ‘Snow White’, to name just a few. Look for mildew-resistant varieties, including ‘Blaustrumpf’ (Blue Stocking), ‘Colrain Red’, ‘Gardenview Scarlet’, ‘Marshall’s Delight’, ‘Sunset’, and ‘Violet Queen’.

PLANT

Bergamot can be planted in the garden almost any time during the growing season. It enjoys full sun and tolerates most soils: it will even thrive in clay soils. Bergamot is easily divided, and can even be propagated by taking a small section of stem and rooting it in soil. (Stem cuttings should be taken in mid-spring while foliage is young.) If you’re growing it from seed, sow in early spring and space the seeds about 45 to 60 cm (18 to 24 inches) apart.

GROW

Bergamot enjoys damp soil and should be watered frequently. The key is to monitor it for disease and pests throughout the growing season. To prevent mildew, keep the soil evenly moist and provide good air circulation between plants by thinning stems early on. If mildew develops after flowering, cut the plant back to uninfected leaves at the base and discard the diseased foliage.

To improve its overall health and lengthen the bloom period, immediately deadhead spent flowers.

Bergamot is aggressive and may require frequent dividing and some removal to prevent it from taking over. Divide clumps every 2 to 3 years in early spring, just before vigorous growth begins. You should also divide any clump showing signs of dying out in the centre.

Whiteflies are pesky, invasive insects. While they will not immediately harm a plant, they are very unsightly and generally an indicator of poor plant health. For milder cases, treat with insecticidal soap (page 362). If the infestation is severe, though, discard the entire plant to prevent the spread of whiteflies to other plants.

HARVEST

You can harvest leaves and flowers as needed during the growing season. The best time to harvest is mid-morning when the dew has dried and the plants are cool. Avoid harvesting during the peak heat of the day. If you plan to dry the leaves, harvest them just before flowering or while bergamot is in full bloom, and always discard any leaves affected by mildew.

To harvest bergamot seeds, wait until the flowers have dried on the stems. Remove the flowers and place them on a baking sheet in the sun to dry. Place the dried flower heads into a paper bag and shake to separate the seeds from the petals.

STORE

Bergamot can be used dried or frozen. Dry by hanging it in a cool, dark, dry place with good ventilation (see “Drying Herbs at Home” on page 365). Or you can chop fresh bergamot and place it in resealable bags in the freezer. The seeds can be stored for up to 3 months in a paper bag or envelope; keep them at room temperature out of direct light.

Put It to Work

Bad gas? Steep this!

Bergamot is delicious as a hot or iced tea, by itself or in combination with citrus peel and other mints. Pick about 20 fresh bergamot leaves. Place them in a mug and pour 1 cup of boiling water over the leaves. Cover with a saucer and steep for 10 to 15 minutes, then strain. Add 1 teaspoon of manuka honey or blue agave nectar. Garnish with a fresh edible bergamot flower for a splash of colour and for extra bioflavonoids.

Stinky breath? Make your own mouthwash!

World-renowned pharmacognosist Dr. James Duke recommends bergamot for treating halitosis (bad breath) and tooth decay. The plant contains thymol, a potent antiseptic and an active ingredient in Listerine mouthwash. If you have bad breath, wash 5 leaves and chew them. One minute is all it takes. (Spit or swallow as you chew.) The leaves are also very high in the powerful cavity-preventing compound geraniol.

Stomach upset? Settle it with a salad!

If you have an upset stomach, or if you’re bloated and constipated, this could be your cure. In addition to the bergamot, the other ingredients in this light salad are also healing to your digestive system.

Salad:

1 cup bergamot leaves

2 cups spinach

½ green apple, cored and sliced

2 Belgian endives, chopped

¼ cup chopped walnuts

½ red onion, sliced

Dressing:

½ cup plain Greek-style yogurt

2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

1 tbsp liquid honey

1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

½ tsp mustard powder

1 clove garlic, finely chopped

½ tsp ground turmeric

Sea salt and freshly ground pepper

Place the spinach and bergamot leaves in a large salad bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the yogurt, vinegar, honey, and lemon juice. Add the mustard powder, garlic, and turmeric. Season with salt and pepper to taste and mix well. Drizzle the dressing over the greens and toss to coat well. Top the salad with the apple, endives, walnuts, and red onion.

To make this salad a complete meal, add cubed tofu, salmon, or grilled chicken—once your tummy is better!

Home odours? Freshen up with bergamot spray!

Bergamot is an antiseptic and has a clean, refreshing citrus-mint aroma. It might be the perfect one-two punch to clean and deodorize the air in your home naturally.

You can make your own hydrosol using a simple process called steam distillation. Collect 2 cups of fresh bergamot leaves. Place a heavy bowl upside down on the bottom of a large pot. Fill the pot with water until it almost covers the bowl and place on the stove. Add the leaves to the water. Place another bowl on top of the upside-down bowl.

Cover the pot with an upside-down lid (the idea is to allow the evaporating water to collect on the lid and then run into the bowl that’s sitting right-side-up). On top of the lid, place yet another bowl and fill it with ice. The ice will keep the lid cool and create condensation.

Turn on the burner to medium-low heat and simmer for an hour or two, until the bowl is full of “distillate.” Pour this liquid into a spray bottle. Use it anytime you want to aromatize a room in the house. The hydrosol will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks.

Fresh is best, but dried bergamot can make a delicious tea.

Fast Forward

Fast forward to the health food store to purchase Oswego tea, which is made from bergamot. Follow the instructions on the label.

Cautions

Bergamot is safe: There are no known interactions or harmful side effects. If you are harvesting leaves from your own garden, just be sure they are thoroughly washed and free of mildew.