Department of Entomology Native Plants and Ecosystem Services

Horsemint (Spotted bee balm)

Monarda punctata

Family: Lamiaceae (mint)

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• Bloom Period:
  • Late,
  • Mid-Season,
• Growth Cycle:
  • Annual,
  • Biannual,
  • Perennial,
• Growth Habit:
  • Forbs/Herbs,
  • Shrub
• Insect Type Attracted:
  • Natural Enemy,
  • Pollinator,
• Light:
  • Full,
  • Partial,
• Region:
  • Northern Lower Peninsula,
• Soil Moisture:
  • Dry,
  • Medium,
• Height:
  • 1-3ft

Natural enemies attracted

Highly attractive: Cantharidae and Plagiognathus politus.

Moderately attractive: Orius insidiosus, Thomisidae, and Chalcidoidea.

Mildly attractive: Cynipoidea, Carabidae, Chlamydatus associatus, Coccinellidae, Salticidae, Braconidae and Bethylinidae.

Pollinators attracted

Moderately attractive: bees including large carpenter bees, digger bees, and bumble bees.

Pests attracted

Highly attractive: lygus bugs and leaf beetles.

Moderately attractive: leafhoppers.

Mildly attractive: thrips and weevils.

Plant notes

Pale yellow flowers with maroon spots are less visible than the white to pale pink leaves that surround them. It bloomed throughout August. Plants remained short and branched out by the third growing season. A large number did not overwinter from their second to third season of growth. This species was the second most attractive to natural enemies in the late season, with six times as many natural enemies as the grass control.

Habitat

This plant will grow in full to partial sun, and very dry to average soil moisture. It occurs naturally in sandy areas such as dunes, fields and relic prairies and is often found in disturbed areas including along railroads and roadsides, and in waste places. It may be associated with oak and pine woodlands.

Cultivation and management

Horsemint can be grown from seed (It flowers in the third year) or plug material (flowers in second year). This species is tolerant of extremely dry conditions.