Wild Bergamot in Zone 5a & 5b
Monarda fistulosa
Yes, wild bergamot grows in zones 5a and 5b and comes back each year. Plant it outside Apr 12–Apr 19.
When to plant wild bergamot in zone 5b
Zones 5a and 5b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Direct sow: Direct-sow outside. It doesn't transplant well, or doesn't need the extra time indoors.
| Start indoors | Not typically started indoors |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Apr 12–Apr 19 |
| Estimated harvest | First real harvest the season after planting |
Spacing: about 2 square feet per plant (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 2-4 ft.
Before you plant: Wild bergamot has a winter-hardiness note for zone 5b. See the details below.
Plant alongside it in zone 5b
These go outside within two weeks of wild bergamot in zone 5b, so one planting day can cover them.
- AngelicaApr 19–Apr 26
- CarawayApr 19–Apr 26
- ChervilApr 26–May 3
- ChivesApr 26–May 3
- HorehoundApr 26–May 3
- Milk ThistleApr 26–May 3
Wild bergamot is the lavender-flowered native Monarda, and it is one of the better pollinator plants to put beside a vegetable bed.
How wild bergamot fits zone 5's season
Zone 5b's frost-free window runs about 148 days, from May 10 to October 5. Wild bergamot takes about 1 growing season to reach first worthwhile harvest, so what matters here is how many of these seasons it gets, not whether one is long enough.
Wild bergamot is hardy in zones 3-9, so in zone 5b it stays in the ground through winter and comes back rather than being replanted. Allow about 2.5 ft of spread at maturity.
Wild Bergamot planting windows in every zone
Zone 5b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3a & 3b | Not usually | May 2–May 9 | First real harvest the season after planting |
| 4a & 4b | Not usually | Apr 17–Apr 24 | First real harvest the season after planting |
| 5a & 5b (your zone) | Not usually | Apr 12–Apr 19 | First real harvest the season after planting |
| 6a & 6b | Not usually | Mar 28–Apr 4 | First real harvest the season after planting |
| 7a & 7b | Not usually | Mar 13–Mar 20 | First real harvest the season after planting |
| 8a & 8b | Not usually | Feb 25–Mar 4 | First real harvest the season after planting |
| 9a & 9b | Not usually | Jan 18–Jan 25 | First real harvest the season after planting |
Good companions
No well-established companions for wild bergamot.
Where to buy wild bergamot seeds
Botanical Interests (each supplier's wild bergamot seeds)
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing wild bergamot" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 5b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Wild Bergamot in USDA zone 5b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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