Anybody growing dotted mint??

[lesa]

Mondarda Punctata to be exact? I am about to place an order with Seeds of Change and that is tempting me. When I google it- the mention of sandy soil, keeps coming up... which I don't have. I am assuming since it is a type of mint- that it won't be too picky.

 

[vfem]

I don't know My lavender needs good drainage... it says 'sandy' on the little tag thing, but I don't have sandy soil, more like clay. Its raised in a bed by a drainage ditch and does well.

That might be all it needs! :happy_flower

 

[RustyDHart]

lesa...It sound neat....the closest thing I have to that ( mint with spots) is variegated Pineapple Mint.... I would love to see a photo.....does it get the nice flowers on it like other Monardas?

 

[thistlebloom]

lesa, I grow monarda didyma, and am not familiar w/ the punctata, but they are very similar( well, duh, they're in the same family )
but I know you'll love it. The leaves are sooo aromatic and the bees and hummingbirds go nuts over them. They bloom most of the summer
here. If you have room try the didyma version, commonly labeled Bee balm. I have several varieties but my favorite is "Jacob Kline (Cline? )
a scarlet red bloom on a tall (3' ish ) plant that is mildew resistant and blooms longer than my others. And did I mention that the bees and hummers love it?!
ETA: As far as sandy soil, my AHS A-Z book specifies moist soil, which seems to be what monarda prefers, so maybe they would do well in your soil as is. I say go for it!

 

[lesa]

Sounds good! Thanks everybody! How wrong can I go with a package of seeds?? My other types of mint certainly LOVE my soil!! I have planted bee balm twice and it never takes, thistle... I keep reading about how easy it is to grow- and how much it spreads...Oh well!

 

[thistlebloom]

Lesa , I confess I've never started Beebalm from seed, I get the plants in 4" pots or the gallons, but of all my flowers they are the ones I love the most!