Spotted bee balm.

At a glance

Care level

Easy

Plant type

Perennial

Light

Full sun

Indoor light

Direct sun

Water

Every 7 to 14 days

Mature size

2 to 3 feet

Growth rate

Medium

Hardiness

USDA 3 to 9

Bloom time

Mid to late summer

Care

Plant this in a spot with plenty of sun and well draining soil. Keep an eye out for powdery mildew on the leaves if the air circulation is poor. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage a second flush of color.

Watering

Water deeply once established, but allow the soil to dry out between waterings.

Feeding

A light application of compost in the spring is usually plenty for this native plant.

Pruning

Cut the stems back to the ground in late winter or early spring before new growth appears.

Repotting

Divide the clumps every few years to keep the plant vigorous and prevent overcrowding.

Soil

Sandy or rocky soil

Soil pH

6.0 to 7.5

Temperature

-40 to 35°C

Humidity

30 to 60%

Safety

People

This plant is generally considered non toxic to humans.

Pets

This plant is generally considered non toxic to cats and dogs.

Children

The plant is not considered a significant risk to children, but always supervise them around garden plants.

Contact allergens

The foliage can cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals due to essential oils.

Airborne allergens

Pollen may trigger mild allergic reactions in sensitive individuals during peak bloom.

Edibility

While the leaves are sometimes used for tea, consult a professional before consuming as some related species can cause digestive upset.

How to identify it

• Spotted yellow tubular flowers
• Showy pink or purple bracts
• Square stems typical of mints
• Aromatic lance shaped leaves
• Whorled flower clusters on stems

Height

0.3 to 0.9m

Spread

0.3 to 0.6m

Leaves

green, deciduous

Flowers

yellow, purple, pink, 2 to 4cm

Fruit

brown, Autumn

Problems to watch for

• Powdery Mildew · A white fungal growth on leaves often caused by poor air circulation.
• Rust · Small orange spots appearing on the undersides of leaves during humid weather.

Growing it

Propagation

seed, division

When to plant

spring, autumn

Pair this plant with other drought tolerant prairie natives to create a low maintenance, high impact pollinator garden.

Grows well with

• Little Bluestem · This grass provides a beautiful structural contrast and shares similar dry soil requirements.
• Purple Coneflower · They bloom at similar times and create a classic prairie aesthetic.

Similar species

• Wild Bergamot · It is a related species with more tubular, lavender flowers.

Science

Family

Lamiaceae

Genus

Monarda

Order

Lamiales

Class

Magnoliopsida

Native range

Eastern and central North America.

Conservation

It is not currently listed as endangered or protected.

It is a pioneer species that excels in sandy, disturbed soils and open prairies.

Value to wildlife

nectar source, larval host plant

Pollinators

bees, butterflies, moths, beetles

Uses

pollinator gardens, prairie restoration, xeriscaping, dried flower arrangements

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it need a lot of water?

No, it actually prefers drier conditions and can suffer in constantly soggy soil.

Will it spread?

It can spread by rhizomes, but it is generally well behaved compared to other mint family members.

Where the name comes from

The genus honors Nicolas Monardes, a Spanish physician who wrote about medicinal plants in the New World, while the species name refers to the spotted appearance of the flowers.

Good to know

• It is commonly known as spotted bee balm.
• The plant is highly drought tolerant once established.
• It thrives in sandy, nutrient poor soils where other plants struggle.
• The scent is often described as a mix of oregano and thyme.