Habitat Avengers Featured Native Plant: Monarda (Beebalm) – presently in bloom (summer)!

There are so many attractive native plant species suitable for ornamental purposes while also providing resources for wildlife. Several can be found in the genus Monarda…

Plants in the genus Monarda are commonly known as Beebalm or Bergamot and are part of the mint family (Lamiaceae). They are native perennial wildflowers that provide benefits to pollinators and birds while brightening up the landscape. These species can be encouraged where found in the wild or planted to enhance backyard habitats. Several species are available commercially.

Beebalm species native to South Carolina include Monarda Photo by Alan Cressler puntacta (spotted bee balm or dotted horsemint), Monarda didyma (scarlet beebalm or Oswego tea), Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot), as well as the less common Monarda citriodora (lemon beebalm), and the white flowered Monarda clinopodia (white bergamot) found in the mountains.

Monarda species generally have dense, rounded, terminal, head-like clusters of tubular flowers atop a square stem.Sisyrinchium 'Suw Scarlet beebalm is a popular perennial with scarlet-red flowers Monarda didyma (scarlet beebalm) is in terminal tufts. Other species have pink or lavender flowers highly attractive to hummingbirds while Monarda punctata has cream-colored corollas with purple spots and pinkish leaf bracts that resemble flower petals. These showy bracts remain attractive for a long time after flowering is over. Monarda species tend to grow to about 3 ft. and stems are lined with oppositely arranged aromatically minty leaves.

Photo by Monarda plants are larval host plants for the orange mint Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot) Jeremy and hermit sphinx moths. They are also a Gatten nectar source for hummingbirds, native bees (including bumble bees), honey bees, butterflies, and moths. The name Oswego Tea comes from the fact that the leaves were used for a tea by the Oswego Indians of New York. WoodSong Photography Early settlers also used the plant for Beebalm species are host plants for the this purpose when orange mint moth and the hermit sphinx regular tea was

scarce. The name Beebalm comes from the folk use of crushed leaves to soothe bee stings. The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. They have a strong aromatic taste, and are used in salads and cooked foods. Bee Balm is moderately deer resistant.

Information from: http://herbarium.biol.sc.edu/scplantatlas.html http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=MOPU http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=MOFI http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/pyrausta-orphisalis http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Lintneria-eremitus http://www.ncwildflower.org/plant_galleries/details/monarda- didyma Monarda punctata (spotted beebalm) grows wild in natural areas all over SC) http://www.se-eppc.org/southcarolina/ and http://www.se-eppc.org/