Wild Bergamot

Wild Bergamot thrills with its unusual purple-pink flowers that attract all manner of bees and butterflies. Grows best when cut in half in early summer, which reduces the final height. Wild Bergamot is prone to powdery mildew that turns the foliage whitish, especially on the lower portion of the plant, and causes lower leaves to drop off. It will not harm the plant but may be unsightly. Hide the tired foliage by tucking Wild Bergamot behind other tall plants. Wild Bergamot spreads by rhizomes (underground stems). To keep it in one place, use a shovel to slice around the plant and sever rhizomes in spring.

• Wild Bergamot responds well to the "Chelsea Chop" - cut the stems of well-established plants in half in late Spring to reduce overall height and improve business
• Taller plants and stems may benefit from staking if they become a bit floppy in mid-summer
• A rhizomatic plant, you can help keep Wild Bergamot in check by slicing into the ground around the plant with a shovel to chop spreading roots
• Consider removing seedlings to prevent spread
• Plants can be thinned out to prevent leaf disease. Though tolerant of partial shade, less sun often will mean more chance for leaf diseases like downy mildew
• Very frequently contracts downy mildew - not a lethal disease but unsightly and easily addressed by trimming afflicted leaves