Dotted horsemint is a wildflower native to the eastern United States. It is considered a short lived perennial, or biennial, but it seemingly continues to propagate itself in perpetuity by runners and once established in an area seems to continually regenerate itself.
It is native to Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Goergia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Lousiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, and Wisconsin. [2] Its USDA hardiness zones are listed as 5 through 9.
In Florida it occurs naturally in dry open woods, pinelands, sandhills, roadsides and disturbed sites. In the home landscape it grows in full sun to part shade with average to dry soils. It is drought tolerant once established. However, in early winter, or during dry months, it may need regular watering to keep the plant looking lush. Unlike the red bee balm, or common garden mints, Monarda punctata does not like wet soils.