Bee balm (Monarda punctata)

Hello Gardening Friends! I have been preoccupied with end of the school year activities recently but things are now coming to an end. It was a fun and busy year that honestly, went by quickly!

Bee balm

Today I would like to tell you about Bee balm (Monarda punctata). My daughter and I came across some Bee balm growing around Lake Baldwin during our one of our walks.  It is also known as Spotted Horsemint, Dotted Horsemint, and Spotted Bee balm.  This is a wonderful nectar plant that also attracts hummingbirds.  I also love its crownlike appearance. It is a perennial native that grows 1.5 - 3 feet tall in full sun with tall pinkish flowers. Bee balm is moderately drought tolerant and not easily affected by pests and diseases. This makes it an easy plant to grow and it looks lovely en masse in a perennial border. An interesting note about Bee balm is native Americans use  it to brew a “sweating tea.” 

Reference
Gilman, E. amd Terry Delvalle, T. Monarda punctata Bee Balm, Horsemint. Retrieved June 2, 2011, from http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fp413