PlantsHerbs & Teas
Spotted Bee Balm
Monarda punctata
Chicago-region native. Suited to zone 6a.
Aromatic tea herb for dry soil
EasyHerbs & TeasAlso FlowersEdible
- Light
- Full sun
- Moisture
- Dry
- Mature size
- 2–4 ft
- Spacing
- 18–30 in
- Bloom or harvest
- Flowers Jul–Sep
- How it spreads
- Short-lived; self-seeds
- What to buy
- Plug or division for reliable residential establishment; seed for larger restoration areas.
- When to plant
- Apr–May; late Aug–Sep, finishing about six weeks before the first frost.
In the design
Needs open soil to reseed; excellent for hot dry edges.
If you eat it
Leaves and flowers used sparingly for tea
Use only positively identified plants
Only eat what you planted and can name. This is not a foraging or medical guide.
