Description
Spotted beebalm (Monarda punctata), also known as dotted mint and horsemint, is both distinctive and variable in bloom. At the top of the upright, 1- to 2-foot-tall stems are multiple whorls of purple-spotted yellow to cream-colored blooms, each with a collar of pointed, lavender-pink to near-white bracts. They appear throughout much of the summer.
Spotted beebalm is a fascinating and beautiful addition to a sunny flower or herb garden, and it makes an interesting cut flower. The plant has a spicy, oregano-like scent when you handle or brush against the leaves. Native to much of the eastern U.S., spotted beebalm is popular with a variety of pollinators, including various bees and butterflies. Full sun; average to dry soil. Reportedly hardy in Zones 5 to 9, but it may not survive winter wet. Fortunately, it can bloom the first year from a spring sowing, so you can grow it as an annual anywhere.
Collected in September and October 2020. At least 20 seeds.
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