Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 8, 2026

Monarda punctata

Monarda punctata is a herbaceous plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae, that is native to eastern Canada, the eastern United States and northeastern Mexico. Common names include spotted beebalm and horsemint.

Last revised
Jul 8, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
491 w
Citations
10
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Monarda punctata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Embryophytes
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Spermatophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Monarda
Species:
M. punctata
Binomial name
Monarda punctata

Monarda punctata is a herbaceous plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae, that is native to eastern Canada, the eastern United States and northeastern Mexico. Common names include spotted beebalm and horsemint.1

Varieties

  • Monarda punctata var. arkansana (E.M.McClint. & Epling) Shinners
  • Monarda punctata var. correllii B.L.Turner
  • Monarda punctata var. coryi (E.M.McClint. & Epling) Shinners
  • Monarda punctata var. immaculata (Pennell) Scora
  • Monarda punctata var. intermedia (E.M.McClint. & Epling) Waterf
  • Monarda punctata var. lasiodonta A.Gray
  • Monarda punctata var. occidentalis (Epling) E.J.Palmer & Steyerm
  • Monarda punctata var. punctata
  • Monarda punctata var. villicaulis (Pennell) E.J.Palmer & Steyerm2

Description

It is a thyme-scented plant with heads of purple-spotted tubular yellow flowers above rosettes of large white- or pink-tipped bracts. The plant contains thymol, an antiseptic and fungicide.3

Unlike most Monarda species that have a single flower head on a stem, Monarda punctata has flowers that are stacked up the stem with bracts radiating from the stem, under each flower. Varying in color from light pink to white, the bracts are ornamental and longer than the flowers, whereas the flowers (yellow with brown spots) are visible only at close range.4

Native Range

Native distribution includes Ontario and Quebec and much of the Eastern United States including: Vermont to Minnesota, south to Texas, New Mexico and north to Kansas, through the east coast (excluding West Virginia5) with isolated populations in California6. The species is considered locally endangered (see Endangered species) in the state of Ohio7.

Ecological value

Monarda punctata attracts pollinators in great numbers, especially wasps. Among the wasps that it brings to the garden are beneficial predatory wasps that control grubs, pest caterpillars, and other harmful insects.4 It is the sole source of pollen for the specialist bee species Protandrena abdominalis.8

Uses

It was historically used to treat upset stomachs, colds, diarrhea, neuralgia and kidney disease.

References

References

  1. "Monarda punctata L." Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
  2. "Monarda punctata". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
  3. Turner, Matt (2009). Remarkable Plants of Texas: Uncommon Accounts of Our Common Natives. Austin: University of Texas Press. pp. 241–243. ISBN 978-0-292-71851-7.
  4. "Monarda punctata - Mt. Cuba Center". Mt. Cuba Center. Retrieved 2017-01-27.
  5. "USDA Plants Database". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  6. University of Texas at Austin. "Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Plant Database 'Monarda punctata'".
  7. ODNR. "DOTTED HORSEMINT". Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
  8. Timberlake, P.H. (1969) Metapsaenythia, a New Panurgine Bee Genus (Hymenoptera, Andrenidae). Entomological News, 80: 89-92.
External links