Monarda punctata (Spotted Bee Balm)
Spotted Bee Balm, Dotted Bee Balm, Dotted Horsemint, Spotted Horsemint
Noted for its pagoda-like flowers, Monarda punctata (Spotted Bee Balm) is a clump-forming, short-lived perennial or biennial, boasting showy clusters of creamy purple-spotted tubular flowers, 2-3 in. across (5-7 cm), resting upon pink, lavender or creamy bracts. Blooming for weeks from early to mid-summer, they attract scores of butterflies and pollinators to the garden. The foliage of deep green aromatic leaves may be used to flavor teas. Spotted Bee Balm is best suited to perennial borders, wild gardens, prairies, and meadows.
- Grows in clumps up to 18-24 in. tall (45-60 cm) and 9-12 in. wide (22-30 cm). Spreads by runners to form large clumps without becoming aggressive.
- Performs best in full sun or partial shade in dry to medium moisture, well-drained soil. Best in sandy soils with consistent moisture. Tolerates poor soils. Drought tolerant.
- This showy perennial is a striking addition to prairies and meadows.
- Monarda flowers attract streams of butterflies, hummingbirds, and other beneficial pollinators, but this plant is deer and rabbit-resistant.
- Providing good air circulation to combat powdery mildew is important.
- Deadhead spent flowers to encourage new blooms.
- Native to the eastern U.S. and California.
Requirements
| Hardiness |
3 - 10 |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Perennials |
| Plant Family | Lamiaceae |
| Genus | Monarda |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Summer (Early, Mid) |
| Height |
1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm) |
| Spread |
9" - 1' (20cm - 30cm) |
| Spacing | 12" (30cm) |
| Maintenance | Average |
| Water Needs | Low, Average |
| Soil Type | Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy |
| Native Plants | Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Midwest, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Northeast, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Southeast, Southwest, Tennessee, Texas, United States, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin |
| Tolerance | Drought, Deer, Dry Soil |
| Attracts | Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Bees |
| Garden Uses | Beds And Borders |
| Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |
Alternative Plants to Consider
Recommended Companion Plants
Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens
By MaryAnne Campbell,Ole Schoener, Shutterstock
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Requirements
| Hardiness |
3 - 10 |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Perennials |
| Plant Family | Lamiaceae |
| Genus | Monarda |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Summer (Early, Mid) |
| Height |
1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm) |
| Spread |
9" - 1' (20cm - 30cm) |
| Spacing | 12" (30cm) |
| Maintenance | Average |
| Water Needs | Low, Average |
| Soil Type | Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy |
| Native Plants | Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Midwest, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Northeast, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Southeast, Southwest, Tennessee, Texas, United States, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin |
| Tolerance | Drought, Deer, Dry Soil |
| Attracts | Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Bees |
| Garden Uses | Beds And Borders |
| Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |
