MONARDA PECTINATA SEEDS

Monarda pectinata

One of the more rare species of bee balm. Native to the western plains of North America. ‘Southwest Medicinal Plants' by John Slattery features a beautiful photo of a large stand on page 356, and he identifies this species as “orégano de la sierra", although we've seen other growers apply this name to Monardella odoratissima.

According to literature, the narrow leaves of this species were used by indigenous peoples as an herb to season meat. The fragrant flowers were infused to produce a perfume. And cold infusion and poultice of the whole plant was employed as a treatment for colds and flu with fever. It should be noted that, except for the perfume part, these uses closely coincide with the traditional uses of Spotted Bee Balm (M. punctata), which may or may not have been confused with this species by some researchers, due in part to the common name of “spotted" being applied to both. What really distinguishes this species from M. punctata is its stoloniferous growth habit.

Sow seeds indoors in bright light at room temperature. Avoid overwatering seedlings. Transplant into warm soil in full sun after all danger of frost has passed. Listed as hardy in zone 6, and as favoring poor acidic soils. Mature plants grow 1'-2', and feature white to pale pink or violet spotted flowers and attractive dusky violet calyxes. Stoloniferous, this species will spread by both roots and seeds where it is happy.

Packet contains at least 30 seeds.