Spotted Bee Balm, Monarda punctata
FS - PS, Hardy to Zone 3, blooms July - September, 2 - 2.5 x 1-2’ deer resistant, sandy to WD, dry to medium, short-lived perennial.
Keystone species - This plant is a keystone species because it is a vital host for specialist pollinators, such as the black sweat bee (Dufourea monardae), plus 2 other Miner bees which feeds exclusively on the Monarda genus. It supports 13 species of caterpillars, such as the Hermit Sphinx and Gray Marvel moths, which are essential high-protein food sources for nesting birds. It attracts an exceptionally wide range of wildlife, including bumblebees, butterflies, skippers, hummingbird moths, and hummingbirds. The plant attracts predatory insects like the Great Black and Golden Digger wasps, which help control pest populations (such as grasshoppers). It is important also because it thrives in poor sandy soil.
I always ask Tom to plant this lovely plant in fairly large groupings of ten plants or so, which become a major attraction. Why? Because they attracted profusions of fascinating insects during their long bloom cycle!
Their flowers are incredibly popular with pollinating insects, especially several species of predatory wasps who crave the protein-rich pollen. These giant wasps will not bother you! The males do not have stingers and the female prefers to use her ovipositor to paritisize pests!
M. punctata, is a great plant for attracting beneficial wasps to the garden to control grubs and pest caterpillars. Although it doesn’t spread aggressively, it does randomly reseed, which is what we want. Most pollinator visitors are after the rich nectar, although the pollen is also inadvertently deposited on their upper thorax (wasps).
The leaves have a minty scent, and like other Bee Balms can be dried and used in teas.
Attracts the Great Black and Great Golden Digger Wasps as well as many kinds of native specialist bees, beetles, flies, Crescent Butterflies and several species of moths. It is a host plant for 13 moths.
Spotted Bee Balm, Monarda punctata
FS - PS, Hardy to Zone 3, blooms July - September, 2 - 2.5 x 1-2’ deer resistant, sandy to WD, dry to medium, short-lived perennial.
Keystone species - This plant is a keystone species because it is a vital host for specialist pollinators, such as the black sweat bee (Dufourea monardae), plus 2 other Miner bees which feeds exclusively on the Monarda genus. It supports 13 species of caterpillars, such as the Hermit Sphinx and Gray Marvel moths, which are essential high-protein food sources for nesting birds. It attracts an exceptionally wide range of wildlife, including bumblebees, butterflies, skippers, hummingbird moths, and hummingbirds. The plant attracts predatory insects like the Great Black and Golden Digger wasps, which help control pest populations (such as grasshoppers). It is important also because it thrives in poor sandy soil.
I always ask Tom to plant this lovely plant in fairly large groupings of ten plants or so, which become a major attraction. Why? Because they attracted profusions of fascinating insects during their long bloom cycle!
Their flowers are incredibly popular with pollinating insects, especially several species of predatory wasps who crave the protein-rich pollen. These giant wasps will not bother you! The males do not have stingers and the female prefers to use her ovipositor to paritisize pests!
M. punctata, is a great plant for attracting beneficial wasps to the garden to control grubs and pest caterpillars. Although it doesn’t spread aggressively, it does randomly reseed, which is what we want. Most pollinator visitors are after the rich nectar, although the pollen is also inadvertently deposited on their upper thorax (wasps).
The leaves have a minty scent, and like other Bee Balms can be dried and used in teas.
Attracts the Great Black and Great Golden Digger Wasps as well as many kinds of native specialist bees, beetles, flies, Crescent Butterflies and several species of moths. It is a host plant for 13 moths.
