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Spotted horsemint is an herbaceous to semi-woody, rather shrubby and gangly, multi-branched perennial (sometimes an annual) to 3 or 4 ft (0.9-1.2 m) tall. Like most herbaceous mints, it has opposite leaves and square stems. The stems and leaves are hairy. The leaves are lance shaped with short petioles and toothed margins, and range from 1 to 3 in (2.5-7.6 cm) long. The flowers are small and rather inconspicuous, but arranged in showy heads, 2-7 per stem. Each flower head rests upon a flamboyant palette of pink to lavender leafy bracts. The little corolla is tube shaped and bilaterally symmetrical with two lips, in typical mint fashion. The flower tubes are pale yellow with purple spots, less than an inch long, and protrude from the rounded heads. The leaves smell like fine Greek oregano.
Location
Culture
Spotted horsemint is a little coarse for the formal garden but is just perfect for the wild or meadow garden and for attracting butterflies. Plant it in masses in the back of a border or let it self seed in a natural area. Spotted horsemint is very tolerant of salt spray, and the showy purple bracts will brighten up the seaside garden from late summer until first frost. The dried floral heads are used in arrangements and sachets. I use the leaves as a substitute for oregano.
Features There are about 15 species of Monarda. The flashy garden monardas are selections of Oswego tea (M. didyma) or hybrids between it and wild bergamot (M. fistulosa). Steve Christman 12/19/99; updated 9/6/03, 9/20/03
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