Monarda punctata
A rare beebalm with purple-spotted flowers
Monarda punctata spotted beebalm
Add to MyPlants
View Locations
Spotted beebalm is a short-lived perennial native to eastern North America and considered rare in Pennsylvania, where it occurs in a few scattered locations across the state. Reaching 1½ to 3 feet in height, it is distinguished by its striking arrangement of yellow, purple-dotted, two-lipped flowers clustered around a brown to reddish square stem. These floral whorls are separated by showy, colorful bracts tinged with white and purple, adding to the plant’s visual appeal.
The top cluster of ¾–1” long flowers is terminal, while the clusters beneath each layer of bracts appear in the axils of the upper leaves. These tubular, two-lipped flowers—measuring ¾ to 1 inch—attract a wide range of pollinators, including butterflies, wasps, hummingbirds, moths, and bees, all drawn to the plant’s extended blooming period, which lasts from mid-summer to early fall.
Spotted beebalm prefers full sun and well-drained soil, thriving in prairies, sandy plains, and disturbed habitats. It is susceptible to powdery mildew in crowded plantings or poorly drained conditions. The plant spreads by rhizomes and self-seeding to form loose clumps, but is not considered aggressive.
Habitat & Range
Rare in dry, open, sandy fields. Prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained, sandy or loamy soil with dry to medium moisture.
Scattered throughout the state.
Range: Native to the eastern and south-central United States, including Pennsylvania, with a range extending north to New York and Ontario, west to Missouri and Texas, and south to Florida and Alabama.
| EMP: | UPL |
|---|---|
| NCNE: | UPL |
Phenology
Flowers June to September.
Characteristics
Inflorescence one head-like cluster in axils of upper leaves or terminal on the branches; subtended by leaf-life pink to lavender to silvery-white bracts tinged with purple
Flowers corolla pale yellow with purple spots; calyx covered with long, soft hairs; tubular, two-lipped; lower lip has 3 lobes, upper lip narrow, arched, spotted; 2 long fertile stamens, 2 short sterile stamens; subtended by bractlets
Leaves simple, opposite, lanceolate to narrowly oblong; medium green, aromatic, pubescent, toothed; 2-4″ long, up to 1″ wide
Stems square, reddish-purple, sparsely hairy; single or branching
Fruit 4 brown dry, indehiscent nutlets per flower, enclosed into a persistent calyx; 1 seed per nutlet
Height 1½ - 3 feet; spread 1 to 3 feet
Plant Codes
S-rank: S1 (Critically Imperiled)
G-rank: G5 (Secure)
Faunal Associations
Attracts a wide array of pollinators, including bumblebees, honeybees, butterflies, moths, and occasional hummingbirds. Serves as a host plant for the Raspberry Pyrausta moth, whose caterpillars feed on its foliage. Other insects also browse its leaves and flowers, making it a vital contributor to native food webs.
The spicy, oregano-like aroma of this plant, rich in thymol, helps deter deer, rabbits, and other mammalian herbivores.
Monarda punctata spotted beebalm
Comments
Have you spotted this plant in your area? We'd love to hear about your experience! Share your comments or questions about the plant below. Comments are moderated before posting.