Spotted beebalm is a native wildflower that is in the mint family. It used to be called dotted horsemint.

We use the flowers, leaf bracts, and leaves, when collecting this plant for herbal tea. The best flavor is achieved once the plant parts are dried, but it can be used fresh as well. The leaves can be harvested before the plant flowers, or they can be harvested with the flowering stems. They can be used fresh or dried.

Drying makes the plant capable of long term storage which is great when you find yourself with an abundance of the plant. Some people chop the dried plant parts up, but I prefer to use them in whole pieces only because it’s easier to process and removes a step. Drying can be as simple as spreading the plant parts out on a tray and letting them air dry.  If your home is air conditioned the process generally takes less time.  They can be sun dried, or even processed in a dehydrator.  Cutting, and hanging, the entire plant upside down is also a particularly easy way for drying and storage in one.  It really depends upon your preferences and situation.