Dotted Mint (Monarda punctata)
Monarda punctata is the scientific name for the dynamic bee balm species more commonly called Dotted Mint, Spotted Bee-balm, Dotted Horsemint, or Horsemint. Dotted Mint is a very special native plant, prized for both its attractive form and ecological value. The striking appearance of this native beauty clearly signals why it is a powerhouse for pollinator attraction. Drawing a wide range of native pollinators and beneficial predatory species, it attracts many kinds of bees, pollinating predators, butterflies, moths, and even hummingbirds.
Dotted Mint directly and specifically supports:
(Dufourea monardae) The Shortfaced Bee is a specialist is a species of sweat bee of the Halictidae family, which has at least 160 known member species of this specific genus Dufourea.
(Perdita gerhardi monardae) This specialist is a species local mostly to Wisconsin and Indiana and is a bee of the Andrenidae family, which has 634 known member species of this specific genus Perdita, and 127 documented subspecies and many more undescribed species.
(Protandrena abdominalis) This specialist is a species of miner bee of the Andrenidae family, which has 58 known member species of this specific genus Protandrena.
These three specialist bees do not survive without Dotted Mint and are known as an oligolectic species, meaning they have a narrow preference for specific pollen, typically to a single genus of flowering plant, in this case Dotted Mint.
Dotted Mint is the symbiotic Host Plant for the Two Snout Moth (Pyrausta generosa) of the Crambidae family. and the Gray Marvel Moth (Anterastria teratophora) of the Noctuidae family. Both species larvae feed on Dotted Mint and after mating, adult females seek the plant out to lay its eggs.
Native Dotted Mint is an active pest management plant for any garden! Thymol from Dotted Mint is used as a quickly degrading, non-persistant pesticide, and can be used as a medical and general-purpose disinfectant!
These qualities within the plant also draws to it a wide array of predatory insects from assassin bugs, ants, dragonflies, spiders, thread-waisted wasps, and specifically noted here is the Northern Paper Wasp.
The Native Northern Paper Wasp
(Polistes fuscatus) is of the Vespidae family, and they are a social wasp forming a complex society with a single dominant Queen, and her daughters or cofoundresses are governed by a dominance hierarchy.
Northern Paper Wasps are omnivores, meaning that they are both pollinators and predatory insects, they evolved alongside Dotted Mint, and the evidence is in how the flower, and the insect are perfectly fitted to each other. As the Northern Paper Wasp pushes into the flower to gain its trove of nectar, the stamen and anther drop down to match her motion between the wings of the wasp, dabbing a targeted area of her back. As she moves from flower to flower, she becomes a very effective pollinator!
Northern Paper Wasps are highly intelligent, being one of few known species with the proven ability to recognize individual faces!
Northern Paper Wasps are generally docile but will vigorously defend the opening of their nests and always begin by warily watching and matching the movements of potential threats. Only when specific boundaries are crossed will they progress to attacking active threats, and they will remember the faces of those who have harmed them in the past or being completely docile around those who are trusted, showing mutual respect.
Dotted Mint is highly resistant to deer and rabbits.
Plant Details
USDA Zones: 3-9
Germination Needs: No special treatment needed, Seed is very small and likes soil contact and a view of the light to germinate. Surface sow and do not cover with more than a dusting if any soil. Keep moist until germination but not soaking, if growing in trays water from the bottom only.
Life Cycle: Perennial
Sun Exposure: Full to Partial
Soil Moisture: Medium, Medium-Dry, Dry
Plant Spacing: ½-1 foot
Height: 2 feet
Bloom time: July, August, September
Bloom Color: Purple
Advantages
Pollinator Favorite: butterflies, moths, bees, wasps, beetles
Bird Favorite: seeds, insects, fruit, nectar, nesting, perches.
Deer Resistant: Yes
Excellent in the home landscape!
.
.
Packet quantities:
We pride ourselves on ethical, hands on, ecological management, using no mechanical or chemical methods whatsoever.
All of our native seed is hand reared, hand picked, and hand packed from native prairies under our exclusive management, never breaking chain of custody from the field until it is sent to you. Each packet is hand prepared for shipment by us, directly.
Small seed species will contain greater than 20-25 seed
Large seed species will contain greater than 10-15 seed
It is our mission to spread the wealth of native plant and pollinator ecological sustainability, and educate back yard gardeners as well as corporate and government entities in how to germinate, grow, and benefit from native synergies.
Thank you for your support, it is because of you, that we can grow together to do, what we do. 🐛🦋🐝🐞🌾🌱🌼🧡
Dotted Mint (Monarda punctata)
Monarda punctata is the scientific name for the dynamic bee balm species more commonly called Dotted Mint, Spotted Bee-balm, Dotted Horsemint, or Horsemint. Dotted Mint is a very special native plant, prized for both its attractive form and ecological value. The striking appearance of this native beauty clearly signals why it is a powerhouse for pollinator attraction. Drawing a wide range of native pollinators and beneficial predatory species, it attracts many kinds of bees, pollinating predators, butterflies, moths, and even hummingbirds.
Dotted Mint directly and specifically supports:
(Dufourea monardae) The Shortfaced Bee is a specialist is a species of sweat bee of the Halictidae family, which has at least 160 known member species of this specific genus Dufourea.
(Perdita gerhardi monardae) This specialist is a species local mostly to Wisconsin and Indiana and is a bee of the Andrenidae family, which has 634 known member species of this specific genus Perdita, and 127 documented subspecies and many more undescribed species.
(Protandrena abdominalis) This specialist is a species of miner bee of the Andrenidae family, which has 58 known member species of this specific genus Protandrena.
These three specialist bees do not survive without Dotted Mint and are known as an oligolectic species, meaning they have a narrow preference for specific pollen, typically to a single genus of flowering plant, in this case Dotted Mint.
Dotted Mint is the symbiotic Host Plant for the Two Snout Moth (Pyrausta generosa) of the Crambidae family. and the Gray Marvel Moth (Anterastria teratophora) of the Noctuidae family. Both species larvae feed on Dotted Mint and after mating, adult females seek the plant out to lay its eggs.
Native Dotted Mint is an active pest management plant for any garden! Thymol from Dotted Mint is used as a quickly degrading, non-persistant pesticide, and can be used as a medical and general-purpose disinfectant!
These qualities within the plant also draws to it a wide array of predatory insects from assassin bugs, ants, dragonflies, spiders, thread-waisted wasps, and specifically noted here is the Northern Paper Wasp.
The Native Northern Paper Wasp
(Polistes fuscatus) is of the Vespidae family, and they are a social wasp forming a complex society with a single dominant Queen, and her daughters or cofoundresses are governed by a dominance hierarchy.
Northern Paper Wasps are omnivores, meaning that they are both pollinators and predatory insects, they evolved alongside Dotted Mint, and the evidence is in how the flower, and the insect are perfectly fitted to each other. As the Northern Paper Wasp pushes into the flower to gain its trove of nectar, the stamen and anther drop down to match her motion between the wings of the wasp, dabbing a targeted area of her back. As she moves from flower to flower, she becomes a very effective pollinator!
Northern Paper Wasps are highly intelligent, being one of few known species with the proven ability to recognize individual faces!
Northern Paper Wasps are generally docile but will vigorously defend the opening of their nests and always begin by warily watching and matching the movements of potential threats. Only when specific boundaries are crossed will they progress to attacking active threats, and they will remember the faces of those who have harmed them in the past or being completely docile around those who are trusted, showing mutual respect.
Dotted Mint is highly resistant to deer and rabbits.
Plant Details
USDA Zones: 3-9
Germination Needs: No special treatment needed, Seed is very small and likes soil contact and a view of the light to germinate. Surface sow and do not cover with more than a dusting if any soil. Keep moist until germination but not soaking, if growing in trays water from the bottom only.
Life Cycle: Perennial
Sun Exposure: Full to Partial
Soil Moisture: Medium, Medium-Dry, Dry
Plant Spacing: ½-1 foot
Height: 2 feet
Bloom time: July, August, September
Bloom Color: Purple
Advantages
Pollinator Favorite: butterflies, moths, bees, wasps, beetles
Bird Favorite: seeds, insects, fruit, nectar, nesting, perches.
Deer Resistant: Yes
Excellent in the home landscape!
.
.
Packet quantities:
We pride ourselves on ethical, hands on, ecological management, using no mechanical or chemical methods whatsoever.
All of our native seed is hand reared, hand picked, and hand packed from native prairies under our exclusive management, never breaking chain of custody from the field until it is sent to you. Each packet is hand prepared for shipment by us, directly.
Small seed species will contain greater than 20-25 seed
Large seed species will contain greater than 10-15 seed
It is our mission to spread the wealth of native plant and pollinator ecological sustainability, and educate back yard gardeners as well as corporate and government entities in how to germinate, grow, and benefit from native synergies.
Thank you for your support, it is because of you, that we can grow together to do, what we do. 🐛🦋🐝🐞🌾🌱🌼🧡
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