Monarda sp.
Bee balm, Bee Balm
(c) Alex Abair, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alex Abair · licence
Family: Lamiaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Monarda sp. (Bee balm) is a native California perennial in the Lamiaceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Salvia: Monarda has flowers with equal calyx lobes, while Salvia has distinctly two-lipped calyxes.; vs Monardella: Monarda has radial flowers with equal lobes, while Monardella has typical two-lipped mint flowers.; vs Phlomis: Monarda is a small herb under 5 feet, while Phlomis is a shrub with densely woolly leaves.; vs Stachys: Monarda has radial calyxes with equal lobes, while Stachys has distinctly two-lipped calyxes.; vs Taraxacum: Monarda has tubular two-lipped flowers on square stems, while Taraxacum has yellow daisy-like flower heads.
Frequently asked questions
Is Monarda sp. native to California?
Yes. Monarda sp. is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Monarda sp. belong to?
Monarda sp. is in the Lamiaceae family, genus Monarda.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.