Plant Preference/Growing Conditions:

Monarda Punctata grows best in dry, sunny areas, with sandy soils. It grows best with very little water. Bee Balm is also known to grow best in circumneutral soil (pH 6.8-7.2.)

Growth Habit/Description:
Spotted Bee Balm is a small (6' - 3"') erect perennial. It has rosettes of a yellowish hue with purple spots, these flowers occur in whorls, subtended by large white-purple leaf-like bracts, lower "leaves" turning green.  Monarda Punctata is known to spread rather quickly through self-seeding, so it will take over a pollinator garden if the flowers are not clipped after blooming season.

Bloom Season:

Tiny yellow flowers bloom at the twig tips in early spring before the foliage appears, making fragrant sumac a good alternative for forsythia.

White, pink, yellow, green, and/or purple flowers with typically maroon markings on the upper petals are known to bloom between April and September. Bracts are more defined and may be purple, pink, white, or yellow.

Fall and/or Winter Interest?

No. Monarda is less much less colorful after flowers stop blooming, and leaves become yellow before they begin to drop. The plant looks very bare during colder seasons, but returns to it's former beauty once spring begins.

Host Plant for Caterpillars?

Yes.  Monarda Punctata is known to host many caterpillars, including the endangered Karner Blue caterpillar. Some other butterflies often spotted on Spotted Bee Balm are the Gray Marvel, Pyralid Moth, Raspberry Pyrausta, and the Silver Spotted Skipper.

Other Known Ecological Value?

Yes.   This plant has a special value to Native Bees, specifically Bumble Bees and Honey Bees, providing nectar to many insects. During the winter, its seeds serve as a food source for small winter birds.

Origin of Name:  Linnaeus named the Monarda family after Nicolas Bautista, a physician and botanist in the 16th century. Bautista never came to the Americas but primarily studied medicinal plants in Spain.

Use For Food/Medicine:

Fresh leaves can be crushed and steeped into cold water to be consumed. This is known to ease backache, inflammation, chills, and helps resolve a fever. Like all Bee Balms, both the flowers and the leaves are edible.

Hassani, N. (2022, July 25). What you need to know about growing spotted Bee Balm. The Spruce. https://www.thespruce.com/spotted-bee-balm-growing-guide-5323120

Foster, J. (2021, April 30). Complete guide to spotted bee balm, Monarda punctata. Growit Buildit. https://growitbuildit.com/monarda-punctata-guide-spotted-bee-balm/#:~:text=There%20are%20several%20caterpillars%20that,that%20feed%20on%20the%20foliage.

Pollinator Conservation Program. Xerces Society. (n.d.). https://www.xerces.org/pollinator-conservation

Ljmarkson. (2021, September 24). Enjoy native spotted Beebalm’s whimsical complexity. NurtureNativeNature. https://www.nurturenativenature.com/post/enjoy-native-spotted-beebalm-s-whimsical-complexity#:~:text=Most%20importantly%2C%20spotted%20beebalm%20is,birds%20also%20like%20the%20seeds.

Last edited by K Grant, September 2023.