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Monarda citriodora

Lemon Beebalm · Lemon Mint · Purple Horsemint

Family LamiaceaeGenus Monarda

Tiers of pale lilac two-lipped flowers stacked in whorls up a single stem, each whorl sitting on a ruff of pink-flushed bracts.
FlowerAlex AbairCC BY 4.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Annual, WildflowerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
annualPlants of the World Online
Height
1-3 ft30-90 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
0.7-1 ft20-30 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Pink, Purple/Lavender, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Spring, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow RockyExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally DryExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

Two sources report two treatments between them. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around April 2, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 3 days to germinate.

91% germination in 3 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Monarda p. 48Public domain
Show the original text
Monarda (Lamiaceae). M. citriodora (JS) germ. 70D(91% in 3 d) confirming earlier work (2nd Ed.).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Monarda p. 48. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

Steps after step 1 run on after germination.

Germination happens during step 1; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

2% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Monarda p. 179Public domain
Show the original text
Monarda (Lamiaceae). M. citriodora germ. 35% in 10-15 d in either 70L or 700 and 40(2%)-70.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Monarda p. 179. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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