Monarda punctata Spotted Bee Balm

Monarda punctata has showy whorls of pink leafy bracts that surround small yellow blooms spotted with purple. The blooms are clustered around the stems above the leaf axils. Flowering in early to middle summer, it is a favorite of pollinators, hummingbirds and butterflies. It has fragrant foliage. Also known as Horsemint or Spotted Bee Balm, Monarda punctata, is a perennial that is native to most of the southern and eastern United States and Canada. It is typically found on sandy soils, including prairies, savannas, dunes and fields. Monarda punctata prefers sun to part shade and well-drained soil. It grows in dryish soil, sandy areas and coastal plains.