Monarda punctata

Spotted Beebalm / Spotted Horsemint

• Full sun settings
• Average to low nutrient soils with excellent drainage (thrives in poor, sandy soil)
• 12" to 24" tall and wide.
• Summer Blooms
• Dry gardens and meadows

A Monarda of another colour…
The blossoms of this monarda are pale yellow, spotted with rust, which is the source of their common name. They begin to bloom in late July, starting with the clusters of buds closer to the base of the blooming stem, while new bunches of flower buds continue to form at the top of the stem. Each layer of blooms rests on a whorl of white or pink bracts. Flowering season stretches to as long as six weeks and the bracts retain their colour through to the fall.
In my experience, this Monarda isn’t inclined to spread through their root systems, like many other members of the Mint family do. Instead, they spread through seeding, which is something that I am happy for, since they seem to be biennial in my garden, although I’ve read descriptions that indicate that they are sometimes short-lived perennials. Seedling success rates seem to be moderate enough that these are unlikely to become challenging in most garden conditions.
Equally happy in full sun and part shade, I haven’t seen these troubled by mildew, even in dry conditions. Their height has been roughly 18”, give or take 6”, with a similar spread.