Fragrant native wildflower spotted thriving in West Texas town
iNaturalist: bettyt1313
Native Plants
Lemon beebalm's minty-citrus scent and long summer bloom make it a bee and butterfly magnet you can add to a dry, sunny bed with almost no fuss.
Someone out exploring in Tuscola, Texas snapped a photo of lemon beebalm, a purple-flowered native plant that smells like citrus and mint when you crush its leaves. Other naturalists reviewed the photo and confirmed the identification, turning it into verified scientific data. Sightings like this help track where this drought-tough, pollinator-friendly wildflower is actually growing across Texas.
Key Findings
Observation location: Tuscola, TX 79562, USA
Species confirmed: Monarda citriodora (lemon beebalm)
Observation reached 'research grade' status through community identification verification
chevron_right Technical Summary
A citizen scientist confirmed a sighting of lemon beebalm, a native Texas wildflower, growing in Tuscola, Texas, and had it verified as research-grade data on iNaturalist.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
lemon beebalm (Monarda citriodora) observed in Tuscola, TX 79562, USA
Research-grade observation of lemon beebalm in Tuscola, TX 79562, USA.
open_in_new Read full abstractAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
Species Mentioned
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Monarda citriodora is a species of flowering plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae, that is native to the southern United States and northern Mexico. Common names include lemon beebalm, lemon mint and purple horsemint. When crushed, the leaves emit an odor reminiscent of lemons. This odor is someti...