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Beebalm / Horsemint
  • Beebalm / Horsemint
  • Beebalm / Horsemint
  • Beebalm / Horsemint
  • Beebalm / Horsemint
  • Beebalm / Horsemint
  • Beebalm / Horsemint
  • Beebalm / Horsemint
  • Beebalm / Horsemint
  • Beebalm / Horsemint
  • Beebalm / Horsemint
  • Beebalm / Horsemint
  • Beebalm / Horsemint
Beebalm / Horsemint

Monarda punctata
$4.50
Description

Also known as dotted horsemint, a perennial that dies back to the ground in North Florida unless we have a warm winter. Bushy with 2-4' spread and height of about 3'. Can grow much bigger with irrigation and good soil. Showy lavender and cream flowers are perhaps the best Florida wildflower for attracting vast numbers of pollinators. From summer through fall the blooms attract pollinators. Very drought resistant. Tastes like spicy intense oregano, and used in the kitchen as an herb or tea.

This can get "weedy" and spreads easily. But we love that about it! And so do the pollinators.
Product details
  • About 300-350 very tiny seeds! (~1/8 tsp seeds)
  • 55 days to bloom
  • Seeds sourced from the Florida Wildflower Growers Cooperative


How to grow

Most native flowers are sown in the fall and winter months, but early spring is acceptable too. All weeds and other plants should be removed exposing bare soil. Broadcast seeds and rake in the bed to obtain good seed to soil contact. Light pine straw mulch is acceptable, but otherwise no mulch, as tiny wildflower seeds need light to germinate. Water in very well the first several weeks.

For more information visit the Florida Wildflower Foundation and The Florida Wildflower Growers Cooperative.

How to save seeds

Many wildflower seeds are easy to spot and gather, and nearly all will easily scatter and sow themselves year after year. So you may not need to save them, but let them scatter about on their own! But to ensure you have seed to share or plant elsewhere, there are some general guidelines for noticing when wildflower seeds are ready to gather.

After flowering, most will develop seeds that ripen in weeks to many months. They are ready to harvest when they become dried and brown, often easily falling out of their capsules and seed heads. Seeds on the same plant can ripen gradually over time and not all at once. You can place stems and seed heads in a paper bag and bring indoors to further ripen and dry.

For more information about collecting wildflower seed, read more at The Florida Wildflower Foundation.

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