Monarda punctata L.

Spotted Beebalm
Horsemint

Florida native

Click on any image to open the slideshow

Although the Monarda genus has many different species, only two are found in Florida, and of these only M. punctata is native. This species ranges through most of the central and eastern United States, plus California, Ontario and Quebec. Found throughout much of Florida in flatwoods, disturbed sites, and coastal areas.
The small two-lipped flowers are white or yellowish, with purple spots and are much less noticable than the colorful leaflike bracts below each globular cluster of flowers. Spotted beebalm, or horsemint, grows up to four feet tall, often in clumps. It has opposite, petioled, lanceolate leaves with toothed margins.
Some of these photos show a flower spider lying in wait for a victim. The Misumenops species page has more photos, including some of the spider with a captured small insect.

Monarda punctata is a member of the Lamiaceae - Mint family.

Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants (Institute for Systemic Botany) profile for this species

iNaturalist profile for this species

USDA Plant Profile for this species

Date record last modified: Mar 06, 2024