Bee Balm, Lemon

Lemon Bee Balm (Monarda citriodora)
Also known as: Lemon Mint, Purple Horsemint, Lemon Monarda

Lemon Bee Balm is a fragrant, fast-growing native annual or short-lived perennial known for its citrusy-scented foliage and stacked whorls of lavender to pink-purple flowers. Native to the south-central U.S., this adaptable wildflower blooms early in the season and attracts a wide range of pollinators. Its lemony aroma, pollinator power, and drought tolerance make it a versatile plant for herbal gardens, meadows, and dryland permaculture systems.

Key Characteristics

• Early-Season Pollinator Magnet
  Blooming from May through July, Lemon Bee Balm provides vital early nectar for native bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Its stacked floral whorls are especially attractive to long-tongued pollinators, and its early bloom helps bridge the gap between spring and high summer flowers.

• Edible and Medicinal Uses – Leaves and Flowers
  The lemony foliage is used in teas, culinary infusions, and natural remedies. Traditionally, the leaves have been used to soothe sore throats and aid digestion. It makes a refreshing summer tea—hot or iced—and adds citrusy zest to salads and garnishes.

• Adaptable to Poor Soils and Dry Conditions
  Lemon Bee Balm thrives in dry to medium, well-drained soils and full sun. It’s highly drought-tolerant and well-suited to xeriscapes, prairie plantings, and disturbed or degraded soils, where it quickly establishes and flowers profusely.

• Self-Sowing Annual with Garden Versatility
  Though technically an annual in most regions, Lemon Bee Balm readily self-sows, creating naturalized colonies in wildflower gardens and meadows. Its upright, branching habit makes it a great filler in native borders, pollinator strips, and herbal beds.

Product Details

• Native range: South-central U.S. (Texas, Oklahoma, surrounding regions)

• Plant life cycle: Annual or short-lived perennial (readily self-seeds)

• Sun requirements: Full sun

• Soil requirements: Dry to medium, well-drained

• Mature height: 1–3 feet

• Bloom time: May to July

• Bloom color: Lavender to pink-purple

• USDA Hardiness zones: 4–10 (grows as an annual in colder zones)

Lemon Bee Balm brings bright citrus scent and early blooms to pollinator and herb gardens alike. A perfect low-maintenance native for vibrant early-season color and ecological value.