This beautiful Florida Native wildflower has many uses. With this plant in your garden/landscape, you can enjoy a diversity of pollinators that its small white with purple specks, and fragrant flowers attract (including hummingbirds!). Also known as 'Dotted Horsemint', it is also known for having medicinal properties. Due to its love for dry soils, these grow well in those areas that receive little to no water.
How to care for Spotted Bee Balm
Light. Full sun is best. It grows in partial shade, but the plant gets leggy.
Water. Moderately drought tolerant. During long dry spells it looks best with some extra water.
Soil and feeding. Plant it in well-drained sandy soil; it also handles slightly alkaline soil and clay.
Size. Grows about 2–3 ft tall and 2–4 ft wide. It grows fast.
Pruning. Pinch the tips of young plants to make them branch. Just before spring, cut it back hard, even to the ground, to clear woody and dead stems.
Problems to watch. Very tolerant of pests and diseases. It reseeds freely.
Good to know. A Florida native. The colorful bracts last for months and draw hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. It is moderately salt tolerant but not for direct salt spray, and Florida freezes rarely kill it.
Sources: UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: Horsemint · UF/IFAS EDIS FP413: Monarda punctata Bee Balm, Horsemint
