Any of 12 North American annual or perennial plants in the genus Monarda , variously known as bergamot , horsemint, and bee balm.
They belong to the mint family and have showy flowers. Wild bergamot ( M. fistulosa ) has a minty aroma. The more sharply scented Oswego tea ( M. didyma ; a bergamot variety) is native to eastern North America but is widely cultivated elsewhere.