Monarda punctata (spotted beebalm, dotted horsemint) is a short-lived perennial native to the eastern and central United States, where it grows on sandy, dry soils, prairies and open woodland edges. It reaches about 30 to 90 cm tall, with upright, square stems and narrow, lance-shaped, aromatic leaves that smell of thyme and oregano, thanks to the thymol they contain.
The flowers are unusual and very distinctive.
They are small, yellowish and spotted with purple, held in tiered whorls up the stem, and each whorl is topped by showy, petal-like bracts in pale pink to lilac or whitish. These flower from midsummer into early autumn and are a magnet for bees, wasps and butterflies, so it is excellent for pollinators. The dried seedheads also last well into winter and add structure.
It loves full sun and well-drained, even sandy or poor soil, and it tolerates drought and heat once established. Unlike many other beebalms, it is not prone to mildew and does not spread aggressively. It is hardy to about -30 °C (roughly zone 3 to 4) but is often short-lived, usually lasting two to four years, so let it self-seed or take cuttings to keep it going. It suits prairie plantings, meadow-style borders, gravel gardens and wildlife gardens.