The lemon bee balm (Monarda citriodora) looks like it was designed by the same committee that came up with the camel. It is a member of the mint (Lamiaceae) family that grows to be about 24-32 inches. I saw it in the pasture and had to take a picture of it as I just couldn’t believe something that looked like that was a native plant. It is, though, growing in the tall grass prairie, range, meadows, open woodlands, roadsides, and pretty much any sunny area. The leaves are lemon-scented and are the source of citronella oil. The leaves were used by the Hopi Indians to flavor game or as tea. This plant draws bees and butterflies, so has a place in any butterfly garden.
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