Spotted Bee-Balm

Monarda punctata

Size: 1g availability

Flower
Max size: 5’ tall x 2’ wide
Average size: 4′ tall x 2′ wide

Moist to Dry, Very Dry
Sand
Sun
No salt tolerance

AKA: Dotted Horsemint, Eastern Horsemint

Bee-Balm blooms from late spring to early fall and has interestingly shaped pink flowers. It contains thyme oil and can be used as a substitute for thyme and oregano. This oil also gives the plant itself a fragrant scent and some use the flowers or leaves to make fragrances, herb bundles, or potpourri. It can be used in formal and informal gardens. Attracts hummingbirds and many varieties of bees. If you want it to be bushier and not risk getting leggy and falling over, you can trim it in early summer.

The oil in it’s leaves is also a source of the medicinal essential oil “thymol”, which is a popular antiseptic. It was used by the Creeks to make a tea to stimulate perspiration to help for “sweating out” fevers.