Native Perennial
Light: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Dry, sandy soils
Tolerance: Drought
Size: Up to about 3 feet tall.
Bloom Color: White, Pink, Yellow, Green, Purple (the flowers of this plant are usually yellow with maroon markings on the upper petals, they may also be white or green. However, the bracts are showier and may be purple, pink, white or yellow.)
Bloom Time: May - Sept
Attracts: Butterflies, Native Bees, Hummingbirds
Pollinator Benefits: Nectar source; Xerces Society notes: Special Value for Native Bees, Bumblebees & Honey Bees; attracts native predatory insects that prey on insect pests (Conservation Biological Control)
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Horsemint (aka Spotted Beebalm) (Monarda punctata) - An aromatic, erect perennial ranging from only 6 in. to almost 3 ft. tall. Rosettes of yellowish, purple-spotted, tubular flowers occur in whorls, forming a dense, elongated spike at the end of the stem or from leaf axils. Each whorl is subtended by large, conspicuous, whitish, purple-tinged, leaf-like bracts.
The tubular flowers are pale yellow spotted with purple on top of bracts that are white to light purple. Leaves smell like fine Greek oregano. Drought tolerant but summer watering can keep plants fresh and blooming longer. Spotted beebalm is noticeably fragrant.