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Writer's pictureKimberly Simmen

Native Plant of the Week: Spotted Horsemint

Family: Lamiaceae


Name: Monarda punctata - Spotted Horsemint


Bloom Time: June - August


Flower: Creamy Yellow with Purple Spots and White, Pink or Purple Bracts


Soil Condition: Dry-Average and Well Drained

Light: Sun - Partial Sun


Height: 12-36" tall by 12-24" wide


Native Range: Eastern and Southern United States including Long Island


Zone: 4 to 9

Monarda punctata is a must have magnet for native bees and wasps. The long lasting, showy flowers are quite spectacular and take on a 'Dr. Seuss'-like whimsy. It is a short-lived perennial but self sows readily and may spread aggressively in ideal conditions. The fragrant leaves may be steeped in cold water to make a 'medicinal' tea for inflammation and backache. Makes a great cut flower. Works well in a planter. Spotted Horsemint will tolerate moist soil as long as it's well drained.


Maintenance: Deadheading spent flowers will prolong bloom time. Just remember to leave some to go to seed, susceptible to powdery mildew


Benefits: Nectar source, host plant to Orange Mint Moth and several other moths, juglone tolerant (Black Walnut), deer and rabbit resistant


Companion Plants: Asclepias tuberosa - Butterfly Weed, Agastache foeniculum - Anise Hyssop, Rudbeckia fulgida var. fulgida - Black-eyed Susan, Coreopsis verticillata - Tickseed, Schizachyrium scoparium - Little Bluestem


pics: KMS Native Plants LLC

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References:

1. https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=MOPU


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