6 Best Bergamot Plants for Hummingbirds

There’s nothing quite like watching a hummingbird zip around the garden, a flash of iridescent green against the summer flowers. You can buy all the fancy feeders you want, but old-timers know the real secret is planting what they actually want to eat. And when it comes to a reliable, hardworking hummingbird magnet, nothing beats a good patch of bergamot, or bee balm as most folks call it.

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Why Bergamot Is a Hummingbird Magnet

Bergamot’s design is practically custom-made for hummingbirds. The flowers are tubular, perfectly shaped for a hummingbird’s long beak to probe for the rich nectar hidden inside. The plant produces this nectar in abundance, ensuring a reliable food source that keeps them coming back all summer long.

The plant’s bright colors—especially the reds, purples, and deep pinks—act like a neon sign. Hummingbirds have excellent color vision and are particularly drawn to these vibrant hues from a distance. Once they spot a stand of bergamot, they’ll investigate, and the reward of nectar solidifies the plant’s spot on their daily route.

But it’s not just about the hummingbirds. A healthy stand of Monarda is a hub of activity for all sorts of pollinators, from bumblebees to beneficial wasps. For a hobby farmer, this is a win-win. You’re not just creating a beautiful display; you’re building a more resilient and productive ecosystem right in your own backyard.

Monarda ‘Jacob Cline’: The Gold Standard Cultivar

If you can only plant one bergamot, make it ‘Jacob Cline’. This cultivar has earned its reputation for a reason. Its flowers are a true, brilliant red—the ultimate hummingbird attractant—and they are massive, forming huge, shaggy heads on tall, sturdy stems.

What really sets ‘Jacob Cline’ apart for the practical grower is its exceptional resistance to powdery mildew. Anyone who has grown older varieties of bee balm knows the frustration of watching the leaves get covered in that ugly white film by mid-summer. ‘Jacob Cline’ stays clean and green, looking good long after others have given up.

This isn’t just about looks; it’s about plant health and less work for you. A mildew-free plant is a stronger plant, better able to produce blooms and survive the winter. For a low-maintenance, high-impact display that delivers on its promise, this is the one to beat.

‘Raspberry Wine’ for Deep Magenta Blooms

While red is the classic hummingbird color, don’t overlook the power of deep pinks and magentas. ‘Raspberry Wine’ is a fantastic choice for adding a different color to your pollinator patch. Its blooms are a rich, wine-red or deep raspberry color that stands out beautifully in the garden and still draws in the hummingbirds with vigor.

Like ‘Jacob Cline’, ‘Raspberry Wine’ was bred for performance. It’s a tall, vigorous grower with strong stems that don’t flop over in the summer rain. It also boasts very good mildew resistance, making it another reliable choice for gardeners who’d rather be enjoying their plants than treating them for disease.

Think of ‘Raspberry Wine’ as the perfect companion to a red bergamot. Planting it alongside ‘Jacob Cline’ or ‘Gardenview Scarlet’ creates a stunning visual contrast while doubling the feast for your feathered visitors. The slightly different bloom times can even extend the feeding season.

Wild Bergamot: The Hardy Native Pollinator Magnet

Before all the fancy cultivars, there was Monarda fistulosa, or Wild Bergamot. This is the tough, resilient plant you see growing in meadows and along roadsides, with its characteristic lavender-pink flowers. For the hobby farmer focused on native plantings and pure, rugged performance, this is an essential plant.

The tradeoff is clear: the flowers aren’t as large or as vibrantly colored as modern hybrids. It can also be more susceptible to powdery mildew, especially if it’s crowded in a garden bed with poor air circulation. But what you lose in flower power, you gain in sheer toughness and adaptability. It thrives in poorer soils and is more drought-tolerant than many of its fussier cousins.

Don’t underestimate its pollinator-attracting power, either. While the color might be more subdued, it’s a nectar powerhouse that draws an incredible diversity of life. Bumblebees, butterflies, and hummingbirds all flock to it. If you have a naturalized area or a "tough spot" where other plants struggle, Wild Bergamot is the answer.

‘Gardenview Scarlet’: A Mildew-Resistant Red

‘Gardenview Scarlet’ is another top-tier red that gives ‘Jacob Cline’ a run for its money. Selected at the prestigious Missouri Botanical Garden, its primary claim to fame is its fantastic mildew resistance. It holds up incredibly well through the heat and humidity of summer, keeping its dark green foliage looking fresh.

The flowers are a clear, bright scarlet-red, and they sit atop strong, 4-foot stems. It forms a dense, well-behaved clump that is both beautiful and manageable. For many gardeners, the choice between ‘Gardenview Scarlet’ and ‘Jacob Cline’ comes down to availability or subtle differences in height and bloom time in their specific climate.

You can’t go wrong with either. Having another stellar red variety to choose from is a good thing. It allows you to plant a larger swath of red for maximum hummingbird appeal or to trial both and see which one performs just a little bit better in your specific soil and conditions.

‘Purple Rooster’ for a Bold, Vibrant Display

If you’re looking for a color that truly pops, ‘Purple Rooster’ is your plant. The flowers are a true, deep royal purple, a color that is surprisingly rare in the Monarda world. Unlike some lavender varieties that can look washed out in the bright sun, this one holds its rich, vibrant hue.

This cultivar is also known for its excellent garden manners. It has a strong, upright habit and is less prone to spreading aggressively by runners than some other types, forming a tidy and substantial clump. Critically, it also has very good mildew resistance, a trait that seems to be a theme among the best modern Monardas.

The deep purple is a fantastic contrast to yellows, oranges, and whites in a perennial border. And yes, the hummingbirds love it just as much as the reds and pinks. ‘Purple Rooster’ proves that you don’t have to sacrifice a bold, unique color to create a first-class hummingbird buffet.

‘Peter’s Purple’: Tall Stems for a Grand Show

For a truly dramatic statement at the back of the border, look no further than ‘Peter’s Purple’. This hybrid is a cross between two species, giving it a unique combination of traits. It’s exceptionally tall, often reaching 5 or even 6 feet, with long wands of lavender-purple flowers that bloom for an extended period.

Discovered in Texas, ‘Peter’s Purple’ has outstanding tolerance for heat and humidity, making it a go-to choice for gardeners in the South. Its open, airy growth habit contributes to its superb mildew resistance; air flows freely between the stems, keeping the foliage dry and healthy.

The height of this plant is a major asset. It lifts the flowers up above the surrounding plants, making them highly visible to passing hummingbirds. Its sturdy stems mean it rarely needs staking, creating a grand, architectural presence in the garden that is as tough as it is beautiful.

Planting Your Bergamot for Maximum Blooms

Getting the most out of your bergamot comes down to a few simple rules. First, give them sun. Full sun is non-negotiable for the strongest stems and the most prolific flowering. A plant in part-shade will be floppy, produce fewer blooms, and be more prone to disease.

Next, think about air circulation. This is the single most important factor in preventing powdery mildew, the bane of all Monarda. Don’t crowd your plants. Give them space to breathe, and plan on dividing the clumps every three to four years to keep the center from getting too dense. This simple chore will reward you with healthier plants and more of them to spread around.

Finally, while bergamot can tolerate a range of soils, it performs best with consistent moisture. They don’t like to dry out completely, but they also hate sitting in soggy ground. A good layer of mulch will help retain soil moisture and keep the roots cool. Get these basics right, and your bergamot will reward you with a summer-long show.

Choosing the right bergamot cultivar isn’t just about picking a color; it’s about selecting a plant that will thrive with minimal fuss. By focusing on mildew-resistant varieties like these, you spend less time worrying about plant health and more time enjoying the spectacular aerial show put on by the hummingbirds. That’s a trade well worth making.