Purple bergamot facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Purple bergamot |
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| Monarda media | |
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| Genus: |
Monarda
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| Species: |
media
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Monarda media is a cool plant often called purple bergamot. It's part of the mint family, which means it's related to the mint you might use for tea! This plant grows naturally in eastern North America, including parts of the eastern United States and Ontario, Canada.
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All About Purple Bergamot
What Does Purple Bergamot Look Like?
This plant is a perennial, meaning it lives for more than two years. It has special underground stems called rhizomes. These rhizomes help the plant spread out and form a group of plants, like a small colony! Its stems are square-shaped and can grow quite tall, usually about 2 to 3 feet high.
The leaves grow opposite each other on the stem. They are shaped like a spear (lance-shaped) and smell like mint when you gently rub them.
Flowers and Friends
Purple bergamot has pretty reddish-purple flowers that are shaped like tubes. These flowers grow in a cluster called an inflorescence. Below the flowers, you'll find purplish leaf-like parts called bracts.
These bright flowers are very attractive to different kinds of insects. Bees and butterflies love to visit them! After the flowers fade, the plant produces seed heads. These seed heads are a tasty snack for birds, helping them find food.
Where Does Purple Bergamot Grow?
You can usually find this plant growing in wet, swampy places. It loves areas like stream beds, where the soil stays moist. This helps it get all the water it needs to grow big and strong.
