Deno’s GardenMy Garden

Monarda punctata

Dotted Mint · Dotted Monarda · Horse-mint · Spotted Beebalm

Family LamiaceaeGenus Monarda

Whorls of cream hooded flowers speckled with purple, arching over ruffs of lilac-pink bracts on an upright stem.
FlowerAlex AbairCC BY 4.0

About the plant

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

The plant

Habit
Herbaceous Perennial, WildflowerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Height
1.5-2 ft45-60 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
0.8-1 ft25-30 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Gold/YellowExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Fall, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Canada, lower 48 statesPLANTS Database
Hardiness zones
3-8Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Loam (Silt), SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, 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; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS.

Worth knowing

This source reports 6 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 24, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 23, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 6 months from start to sowing. Then 14 days to germinate.

51% germination in 14 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Monarda p. 59Public domain
Show the original text
Monarda (Lamiaceae). M. punctata seeds DS 6 m germ. 70L(51% in 2nd w), 70 GA-3(3%) 70D(4%) 40(4%)-70L(35% in 2-14 d), and 40(4%)-70D{4%).-After an additional 6 m DS (1 y ' totat) the seeds germ. 70L(33% in 4-17 d) and 70D(5%), and after 2 y DS the seeds germ. 70L(11 % in 6-22 d) and 70D(none).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Monarda p. 59. 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, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around June 26, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on June 25, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    4 germinated in this phase.

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 9 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 14 days.

35% germination in 2–14 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Monarda p. 59Public domain
Show the original text
Monarda (Lamiaceae). M. punctata seeds DS 6 m germ. 70L(51% in 2nd w), 70 GA-3(3%) 70D(4%) 40(4%)-70L(35% in 2-14 d), and 40(4%)-70D{4%).-After an additional 6 m DS (1 y ' totat) the seeds germ. 70L(33% in 4-17 d) and 70D(5%), and after 2 y DS the seeds germ. 70L(11 % in 6-22 d) and 70D(none).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Monarda p. 59. 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 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on March 14, 2025.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 730 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 2 years from start to sowing. Then 22 days to germinate.

11% germination in 6–22 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Monarda p. 59Public domain
Show the original text
Monarda (Lamiaceae). M. punctata seeds DS 6 m germ. 70L(51% in 2nd w), 70 GA-3(3%) 70D(4%) 40(4%)-70L(35% in 2-14 d), and 40(4%)-70D{4%).-After an additional 6 m DS (1 y ' totat) the seeds germ. 70L(33% in 4-17 d) and 70D(5%), and after 2 y DS the seeds germ. 70L(11 % in 6-22 d) and 70D(none).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Monarda p. 59. 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 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

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

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 6 months from start to sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

4% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Monarda p. 59Public domain
Show the original text
Monarda (Lamiaceae). M. punctata seeds DS 6 m germ. 70L(51% in 2nd w), 70 GA-3(3%) 70D(4%) 40(4%)-70L(35% in 2-14 d), and 40(4%)-70D{4%).-After an additional 6 m DS (1 y ' totat) the seeds germ. 70L(33% in 4-17 d) and 70D(5%), and after 2 y DS the seeds germ. 70L(11 % in 6-22 d) and 70D(none).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Monarda p. 59. 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 5

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

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

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

Steps after step 2 run on after germination.

about 6 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

4% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Monarda p. 59Public domain
Show the original text
Monarda (Lamiaceae). M. punctata seeds DS 6 m germ. 70L(51% in 2nd w), 70 GA-3(3%) 70D(4%) 40(4%)-70L(35% in 2-14 d), and 40(4%)-70D{4%).-After an additional 6 m DS (1 y ' totat) the seeds germ. 70L(33% in 4-17 d) and 70D(5%), and after 2 y DS the seeds germ. 70L(11 % in 6-22 d) and 70D(none).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Monarda p. 59. 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 6

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

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

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Gibberellic acid soak

  3. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

about 6 months from start to sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

3% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Monarda p. 59Public domain
Show the original text
Monarda (Lamiaceae). M. punctata seeds DS 6 m germ. 70L(51% in 2nd w), 70 GA-3(3%) 70D(4%) 40(4%)-70L(35% in 2-14 d), and 40(4%)-70D{4%).-After an additional 6 m DS (1 y ' totat) the seeds germ. 70L(33% in 4-17 d) and 70D(5%), and after 2 y DS the seeds germ. 70L(11 % in 6-22 d) and 70D(none).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Monarda p. 59. 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

Add to My Garden

View species page