Lemon beebalm is an annual or biennial in the mint family (Lamiaceae) native to the southern USA and northern Mexico. Lemon beebalm grows on slopes and hills, along roadsides or in prairies, meadows, and savannas. The species epithet is Latin for “having a lemon scent.” This plant prefers rocky limestone soil and sandy loam but will adapt to other well-drained soils. It does best in full sun and, if happy, will self-seed and form colonies. Propagation is by seeds, which can be planted in the fall or early spring. The flowers are showy and attractive. Whorl-like clusters of flowers appear in interrupted heads on a square stem from spring through mid-summer. The flowers and leaves have a lemon scent, and the leaves are edible (used for tea). It is deer- and rabbit-resistant. Use this plant in an edible garden, pollinator garden and naturalized areas such as meadows and prairies. If you like hummingbirds, plant Lemon beebalm in masses to attract them. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems, but watch for powdery mildew. Keeping the soil moist will help prevent fungal diseases. May become floppy if over-fertilized. More information on Monarda .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Erect
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Oblanceolate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf value
Fragrant
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate leaves on short stems have an angled or tapered base and are tapered to a sharply pointed tip, often bristle-tipped. Margins are finely toothed, upper surface with sparse short hairs and the underside sparsely to moderately hairy. Both surfaces have conspicuous impressed glands. Upper leaves are larger and may appear whorled at the top of the stem
Flower color
Pink; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Tubular 2-lipped lavender to pink to white flowers occur in 2 to 6 discrete clusters around the upper stem. Under each whorl of flowers are leafy purple to greenish bracts. Individual flowers are 3/4 inch long. Bloom time is spring to mid-summer
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Schizocarp
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Dry schizocarps, separating into usually 4 nutlets
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Stout green stems are square and covered with short hairs
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
IL, MO, KS south to AL, MS, LA, TX, NM, and Mexico
Distribution
Spread eastward and now found in AL, AR, AZ, FL, GA, IL, KS, KY, LA, MO, MS, NE, NM, OK, SC, TN, TX, UT
Wildlife value
Attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Hummingbirds
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Leaves
Harvest time
Summer
Fruit type
Schizocarp
Edibility
Leaves used raw or cooked for flavoring in salads, cooked foods, and for tea.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Meadow; Naturalized Area; Slope/Bank
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Cottage Garden; Edible Garden; Garden for the Blind; Pollinator Garden; Rock Garden