Monarda Species, Horsemint, Spotted Beebalm, Bee Balm
Monarda punctata
Family: | Lamiaceae (lay-mee-AY-see-ee) (Info) |
Genus: | Monarda (mo-NAR-da) (Info) |
Species: | punctata (punk-TAH-tah) (Info) |
Synonym: | Monarda punctata subsp. punctata |

Category:
Perennials
Water Requirements:
Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Sun to Partial Shade
Foliage:
Herbaceous
Shiny/Glossy
Foliage Color:
Height:
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
36-48 in. (90-120 cm)
Spacing:
15-18 in. (38-45 cm)
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
Where to Grow:
Grow outdoors year-round in hardiness zone
Danger:
N/A
Bloom Color:
Pink
Pale Yellow
Lavender
Bloom Characteristics:
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Flowers are fragrant
Bloom Size:
Bloom Time:
Mid Summer
Late Summer/Early Fall
Other details:
Soil pH requirements:
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
From seed; winter sow in vented containers, coldframe or unheated greenhouse
From seed; sow indoors before last frost
Self-sows freely; deadhead if you do not want volunteer seedlings next season
Seed Collecting:
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
Properly cleaned, seed can be successfully stored
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
Auburn, Alabama
Newville, Alabama
Ozark, Alabama
Seale, Alabama
Little Rock, Arkansas
Morrilton, Arkansas
North Little Rock, Arkansas
, Ash Sharqiyah
Apopka, Florida
Bartow, Florida
Bokeelia, Florida
Bushnell, Florida
Dade City, Florida
Deland, Florida(2 reports)
Deltona, Florida
Ellenton, Florida
Flagler Beach, Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Florida(2 reports)
Hollywood, Florida
Homosassa, Florida
Largo, Florida
Lutz, Florida
Oldsmar, Florida
Pompano Beach, Florida
Saint Augustine, Florida
Sarasota, Florida
Satellite Beach, Florida
Tallahassee, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Trenton, Florida
Wauchula, Florida
Zephyrhills, Florida
Eastman, Georgia
Pacific Junction, Iowa
South Amana, Iowa
Barbourville, Kentucky
Buckfield, Maine
Cumberland, Maryland
Swansea, Massachusetts
Bay City, Michigan
Midland, Michigan
Mount Clemens, Michigan
Minneapolis, Minnesota(2 reports)
Spring Grove, Minnesota
Leakesville, Mississippi
Charlotte, North Carolina
Oak Island, North Carolina
Newark, Ohio
Rush Springs, Oklahoma
Charleston, South Carolina
Hampton, South Carolina
Johns Island, South Carolina
Laurens, South Carolina
Okatie, South Carolina
Summerville, South Carolina
Oneida, Tennessee
Arlington, Texas
Belton, Texas
Carrollton, Texas
Cedar Creek, Texas
Colmesneil, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Galveston, Texas
Grand Prairie, Texas
Lipan, Texas
Paige, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
Temple, Texas
Trenton, Texas
Leesburg, Virginia
Mc Lean, Virginia
Kalama, Washington
Rosalia, Washington
Muscoda, Wisconsin
show allGardeners' Notes:
Rating | Content |
---|---|
Positive | On Sep 11, 2021, MamaRoz from Newville, AL wrote: A foraging friend and I have found several strong stands of this in and around Ozark, AL. My grandmother used it as an attractant in the baked bait balls she made for my Papaw's fish baskets back in the day. |
Positive | On Aug 29, 2016, Barbie_n_Roddy from Eastman, GA wrote: I first spotted this plant last year while out picking blackberries. Naturally for me anyway, I break off a leaf and smell it. Such a pleasant minty pepper smell to me. Well when I'm walking on that path I always pick some off and sniff it on the way home. Today was the first time I saw the flowers and was able to identify it. I will be trying to get some to grow next to my house for the wonderful smell alone. |
Neutral | On May 22, 2014, amallen from Johns Island, SC wrote: Planted this to attract butterflies. Chose lightest lavender to fit with garden color scheme but color was so light the flowers just looked dead from ten feet away. Plants grew well and foliage was strong and dense, two plus feet tall, even in high shade. No mildew problems despite Coastal SC high heat and humidity. |
Positive | On Jul 13, 2013, 1jbweaver from Savannah, GA wrote: I've read that horse mint is a great deterrent for Mosquitos and was wondering if this is true. |
Positive | On Mar 14, 2013, guygee from Satellite Beach, FL wrote: I had this attractive plant in my front yard from a randomly strewn seed for two years. Anything to help the bees and other faithful pollinators, which seem to be scarcer each year from indiscriminate insecticide use. It is a subtle yet attractive flower for the garden. |
Positive | On Jun 7, 2011, Erutuon from Minneapolis, MN wrote: Last year (2010) I got seedlings of horsemint and angel's trumpet from a friend. The angel's trumpet grew huge and covered the horsemint, but it set seed, and this year there are lots of seedlings. Apparently it isn't a perennial in Minnesota, or else it was just too weak since it was shaded by the angel's trumpet. This year more plants will be in sun, so hopefully I'll find out. |
Positive | On Apr 11, 2011, ransom3 from Zephyrhills, FL wrote: If you like watching bees, then this plant will be fascinating.Winged hymenopterans of all kind are visitors to flowering horsemint.I mean all kinds. It is also pretty and requires minimum care. It will truly add some life, excitement and lots of buzz to your garden. |
Positive | On Jul 23, 2009, nanniepb from Cumberland Mtns, TN (Zone 6b) wrote: I received seeds marked 'Monarda punctata - Spotted bee balm from a seed swap on DG in the fall of 2008 and Wintersowed them in a milk jug around Feb. 15th, 2009. I didn't take the time to research what the plants would look like so I was pleasantly surprised when the plants started to bloom. I hope to save seeds and grow many more next year. |
Positive | On Feb 3, 2007, sallyg from Anne Arundel,, MD (Zone 7b) wrote: grew this from seed from Park's in about 1995. Also saw lots of it wild in Calvert County at Flag Ponds, near the beach. An interesting unusual bloom. |
Positive | On Jul 31, 2005, artcons from Fort Lauderdale, FL (Zone 10b) wrote: I received this plant as a throw in when I purchased several others at a native plant nursery in Naples back in January. The plant looked so pathetic I don't think the owner felt right charging me for it. He did note I would be totally blown away when I saw it in full bloom. |
Neutral | On Dec 4, 2004, smiln32 from Oklahoma City, OK (Zone 7a) wrote: From the Plants for a Future website: "Horse mint was traditionally taken by several native North American Indian tribes to treat nausea and vomiting, and to encourage perspiration during colds. It was also applied externally as a poultice to treat swellings and rheumatic pains. Nowadays it is used primarily to treat digestive and upper respiratory tract problems." |
Positive | On Sep 14, 2004, julie88 from Muscoda, WI (Zone 4b) wrote: This is the first year that I took careful notice of this plant. It grows wild in the dry sand barrens of our zone 4b area. I was quite surprised when I looked closely enough at the plant to realize that it wasn't a dryed out stiff "left-over" of some prairie weed, but rather a plant with a very unique flower. |
Neutral | On Feb 2, 2003, Crimson from Clarksville, TN (Zone 6b) wrote: Did very poorly (zone 4) didn't like being with the Celosia, they grew much faster and swamped it... I want to try it again some day. |
Positive | On Jan 9, 2003, ButterflyGardnr from Orlando, FL (Zone 9b) wrote: This is one of the best plants there is for bringing in all types of pollinators (bees, butterflies, wasps, etc.) The plant can get leggy, but light prunings will keep it in bounds. At the end of the season, the dead stems should be cut back. It spreads readily by seed in the south. The longer stems of the plant will sometimes mat down and root, forming a rather large clump of the plant. The plant a very pleasant scent when brushed, crushed, or cut. The flowers are very unusual. |
Neutral | On Nov 12, 2002, Weezingreens from Seward, AK (Zone 3b) wrote: Mondara punctata is a herbaceous, semi-woody, rangy, shrub-like plant. The opposing leaves are lanceolate with a scent resembling oregano. Both the square stems and the leaves are hairy. |