Need Help With Flower ID

GoDawgs · May 16, 2018

Last year I was given a freebie packet of seed from the Georgia Dept of Transportation. It was a mix of Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susan) and Gaillardia (Blanket Flower) and I planted them in two half barrels. They not only grew well but after being cut back they never really went through winter kill.

Now they’re back, bigger and thicker than last year, blooming and a lavender stranger has appeared in their midst! Someone told me it is Monarda (Bee Balm). Since I’m only familiar with the red version I did some searching. The closest I can find is Monarda fistulosa, or Wild Bergamot. The crushed leaves have the medicinal oregano scent but in every photo I’ve found the petals are rather tubular and the petals on mine are flat. Also, the blooms are appearing in tiers on mine and in photos the blooms are atop the stem only.

Any idea what this is?

Nan_PA_6b · May 17, 2018

monarda citriodora, lemon mint.

Nan

GoDawgs · May 17, 2018

Hmmm, mine is a lot more pale in color and it has no citrus scent but smells strongly of oregano with a hint of thyme. Pretty medicinal!

Nan_PA_6b · May 17, 2018

It's definitely a mint family herb. How about Jerusalem Sage, Phlomis tuberosa?

Might be wild basil, but that's fuzzier.

Nan

GoDawgs · May 18, 2018

I just looked up the Jerusalem sage and although it's tiered, the petals and flower size are different and there are very few leaves. This thing I have is loaded with leaves.

Patihum · May 18, 2018

Horsemint - Monarda punctata. There's more than one type/kind so make sure to look at pictures carefully. Some nurseries are breeding it now too.

GoDawgs · May 20, 2018

We're getting closer. I've looked at a lot of different pics of Monarda punctata and they all seem to have white to pale yellow tubular flowers with well spaced spots. I took this pic this morning and the one tube opening has so many spots I first thought it was a dark pink tube until I looked closer.

So it's probably a spotted bee balm of some kind. Let's call it "case closed" and thanks for all the help, people!

NarnianGarden · May 21, 2018

Looks lovely, whatever the diagnosis!

SpookyShoe · May 25, 2018

Love them! Hummingbirds like bee balm, right?

Donna, Texas Gulf Coast

Nan_PA_6b · May 25, 2018

Mine will only go for red & wine colored, with pink a very distant third,but yes they do.

Nan

May 16, 2018	#1
GoDawgs Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Augusta area, Georgia, 8a/7b Posts: 1,685	Need Help With Flower ID Last year I was given a freebie packet of seed from the Georgia Dept of Transportation. It was a mix of Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susan) and Gaillardia (Blanket Flower) and I planted them in two half barrels. They not only grew well but after being cut back they never really went through winter kill. Now they’re back, bigger and thicker than last year, blooming and a lavender stranger has appeared in their midst! Someone told me it is Monarda (Bee Balm). Since I’m only familiar with the red version I did some searching. The closest I can find is Monarda fistulosa, or Wild Bergamot. The crushed leaves have the medicinal oregano scent but in every photo I’ve found the petals are rather tubular and the petals on mine are flat. Also, the blooms are appearing in tiers on mine and in photos the blooms are atop the stem only. Any idea what this is?

May 25, 2018	#9
SpookyShoe Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: El Lago, Texas Posts: 1,100	Beautiful photos Love them! Hummingbirds like bee balm, right? Donna, Texas Gulf Coast

May 17, 2018	#2
Nan_PA_6b Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 3,194	monarda citriodora, lemon mint. Nan

May 18, 2018	#5
GoDawgs Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Augusta area, Georgia, 8a/7b Posts: 1,685	I just looked up the Jerusalem sage and although it's tiered, the petals and flower size are different and there are very few leaves. This thing I have is loaded with leaves.

May 18, 2018	#6
Patihum Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Southeast Kansas Posts: 878	Horsemint - Monarda punctata. There's more than one type/kind so make sure to look at pictures carefully. Some nurseries are breeding it now too.

May 20, 2018	#7
GoDawgs Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Augusta area, Georgia, 8a/7b Posts: 1,685	We're getting closer. I've looked at a lot of different pics of Monarda punctata and they all seem to have white to pale yellow tubular flowers with well spaced spots. I took this pic this morning and the one tube opening has so many spots I first thought it was a dark pink tube until I looked closer. So it's probably a spotted bee balm of some kind. Let's call it "case closed" and thanks for all the help, people!

May 21, 2018	#8
NarnianGarden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Finland, EU Posts: 2,550	Looks lovely, whatever the diagnosis!