Description Like its more dependably perennial relatives, lemon beebalm (Monarda citriodora)—also known as lemon mint and lemon horsemint—doesn’t disappoint in the fragrance department, and it’s just as eye-catching in bloom. Its upright stems usually reach 2 to 3 feet tall, with narrow, medium green leaves that, not surprisingly, have a lemony scent, often developing a spicier oregano- or thyme-like kick as they age. Whorls of shorter and wider, leaf-like, purplish to near-white bracts form along the top of each stem, making the plants look like they’re in bloom well before the pink to purplish pink (and also fragrant) flowers fully open. The tiered spikes add a distinctly different effect to plantings of more ordinary mounded or trailing annuals, in the ground or in a container. Consider growing some extra plants in your herb, vegetable, or cutting garden too: Both the flowers and foliage are edible, and the blooming stems are fabulous for adding color and fragrance to fresh bouquets. Lemon beebalm blossoms are magnets for bees, butterflies, and other valuable pollinating insects, and hummingbirds will haunt them too. This species is mostly native to the southern half of the United States. Full sun (for best flowering) to light shade; average to dry soil. It’s reportedly a short-lived perennial in Zones 5 to 9, but it may not survive winter wet. You can try it as an annual pretty much anywhere, though. A spring sowing usually flowers a few months later; plants from summer-sown seeds (or self-sown seedlings) generally overwinter as low clumps and flower in early to midsummer of the following year. Collected in September 2025. At least 20 seeds. Unknown ecotype. Shipping to U.S. addresses only. Please read the germination information as well before ordering.
