How much sun does Basil Beebalm need?

Basil Beebalm grows best in full sun conditions.

When does Basil Beebalm bloom?

Basil Beebalm blooms in March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, and November.

Where is Basil Beebalm native?

Basil Beebalm (Monarda clinopodioides) is native to KS, OK, TX, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.

What pollinators does Basil Beebalm attract?

Basil Beebalm draws butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.

Is Basil Beebalm HOA-friendly?

Basil Beebalm is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with moderate maintenance.

Basil Beebalm

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Monarda clinopodioides

Last reviewed: November 2026

Toxicity unknown

Basil Beebalm (Monarda clinopodioides) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

full sun

Water

medium

Size

9"–15" H × 12"–24" W

Bloom

Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Native to

KS, OK, TX

Pollinators

butterflies, bees, hummingbirds

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 460 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Upload a photo of your yard and Patch Vision shows a rendering of it planted with natives for your region, like Basil Beebalm.

Try it with your yard

Browse plants for this ecoregion

High Plains Southwestern Tablelands Central Great Plains Cross Timbers Edwards Plateau Texas Blackland Prairies East Central Texas Plains Western Gulf Coastal Plain South Central Plains

Basil Beebalm is a compact annual wildflower with fragrant foliage and small clusters of white to pale pink flowers. It blooms reliably from spring through fall, forming neat low mounds that work well in borders and mixed plantings.

In an HOA neighborhood

Basil Beebalm is an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement. Maintenance level: moderate. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.

Works well in: front yard, foundation, street edge, mid zone.

Requires seasonal replanting
May have messy dieback

Wildlife value

This plant is a pollinator magnet, attracting butterflies, native bees, and hummingbirds throughout its extended blooming season. Its long flowering period makes it particularly valuable for sustaining pollinators from spring through fall.

Common questions

How much sun does Basil Beebalm need?: Basil Beebalm grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Basil Beebalm bloom?: Basil Beebalm blooms in March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, and November.
Where is Basil Beebalm native?: Basil Beebalm (Monarda clinopodioides) is native to KS, OK, TX, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
What pollinators does Basil Beebalm attract?: Basil Beebalm draws butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.
Is Basil Beebalm HOA-friendly?: Basil Beebalm is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with moderate maintenance.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

See all plant problem guides

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