Amore Amaro

Original photo by: Elena Peabody.

Spotted beebalm is a North American native plant with medicinal properties. It isn’t used in any amari, but has been included in this garden design as a nod to the creative uses of botanicals across cultures and geographies.

Uses

Spotted beebalm is used to make tea, and in herbal medicine. According to the Plants For A Future database, spotted beebalm is used to treat digestive ailments and upper respiratory problems. It can also be applied topically to treat arthritis.¹

The plant is also processed into an essential oil containing thymol, an antiseptic, antibacterial, and antifungal compound. It‘s worth noting, however, that in large quantities thymol can be fatal.^{2, 3}

Historical context

Spotted beebalm was used medicinally by Indigenous Americans for digestive purposes, as well as to induce perspiration during a cold.⁴ Spotted beebalm was used by European colonial settlers, as well.⁵

Cultivation

Spotted beebalm grows best in full sun to partial shade. It enjoys dry to medium moisture, and will tolerate poor soils and drought.⁶

Pests

Spotted beebalm is susceptible to powdery mildew.⁷

References

1. Plants For A Future, “Monarda punctata - L.” Accessed August 14, 2019.
2. Ibid.
3. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), “PubChem Compound Summary: Thymol.” Accessed August 14, 2019.
4. Plants For A Future, op. cit.
5. NASA Cultural Resources (CRGIS), “Cloverdale Interpretive Garden.” Accessed August 14, 2019.
6. Missouri Botanical Garden, “Monarda punctata.” Accessed August 14, 2019.
7. Ibid.