Monarda punctata Spotted Bee Balm Seeds – Native Pollinator Wildflower, 100 Seeds

Monarda punctata, commonly known as spotted bee balm or horsemint, is a native North American wildflower prized for its unusual tiered blooms and its value to pollinators. The flowers are pale yellow to cream, heavily speckled with purple, and are arranged in stacked whorls along upright stems. Each whorl is backed by showy lavender to pinkish bracts that create a striking, layered look in the garden.

Spotted bee balm is a favorite of bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, making it an excellent choice for pollinator gardens, native plantings, meadow gardens, and wildlife-friendly landscapes. It is also valued for its drought tolerance once established, its aromatic foliage, and its ability to thrive in poor to average soils.

Plant Features

• Native wildflower with distinctive stacked flower whorls
• Pale yellow flowers speckled with purple and lavender bracts
• Highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators
• Aromatic foliage with a mint-like scent
• Drought tolerant once established

Growing Information

• Botanical Name: Monarda punctata
• Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial, often grown as an annual in colder zones
• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Well-drained, sandy or loamy soil; tolerates poor soil
• Water Requirements: Low to medium; drought tolerant once established
• Growth Habit: Upright, clump-forming
• Bloom Season: Summer to early fall
• Mature Height: Typically 2 to 3 feet
• Spacing: 12 to 18 inches apart

Planting & Care

Sow spotted bee balm seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost, or direct sow outdoors after the danger of frost has passed. Press seeds lightly into the soil surface; do not cover deeply, as light aids germination. Keep the soil consistently moist until seedlings emerge. Once seedlings have several sets of true leaves, thin or transplant them to their final spacing.

Spotted bee balm prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Water regularly during the first growing season to help plants establish, then reduce watering as they become drought tolerant. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continued bloom, or leave seed heads standing for winter interest and bird forage. Divide clumps every few years to maintain vigor.

What's Included

100 Monarda punctata (Spotted Bee Balm) seeds.