Spotted Bee Balm (also called Dotted Mint or Dotted Horsemint) prefers sandy soils and full to part sun. This Monarda is more tolerant of drought and intense sun than most in the genera. It is an eccentric beauty in form and color with complex blossoms topping 2’ stems in hues of pinkish-purple, green, beige, and maroon. These blossoms attract honeybees, bumblebees, and many butterflies. The scent of this plant is repugnant to mammalian herbivores so is rarely consumed by them.

We have loved watching this plant attract ALL the pollinators in the Wild Garden at Bellefield! An incredibly interesting plant.