Does anyone recognize this flower? It grows wild here in North Texas. No one around here can tell me what it is! It's so pretty too.

It's in Lamiaceae, and it looks like a Monarda sp.

http://www.wildflowers-and-wee...

Now to find which one!

Monarda citriodora looks close..

http://www.wildflowerhunter.ne...

http://www.mexicohorse.com/wil...

http://alabamaplants.com/Pinko...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/b...

It's beautiful. I'm in East Texas and have never seen those in our area, unfortunately. I wish we did!

I think M. citriodora looks closest too: http://www.wildflower.org/plan...

Looking at all the images, Monarda citriodora looks exactly right. Horsemint! I wish I knew to type that or monarda or bee balm into Google. Thank you all so much! I've been wondering for years. It's even edible! Unbelievable how many people around here dump chemicals on this and all the other edible (and pretty) natives and replace them with water sucking lawns that you can't eat. Go figure.

Jenn, I agree, the modern mindset is way off the mark!

Maybe you could collect some seed to send to Dave? It is very pretty, much nicer than most human made hybrids! Bees and other insects always prefer the species too, they have after all adapted to them over many thousands of years.

I certainly can. Looking forward to seeing them again in the warm seasons!

It's also a great nectar plant and will attract butterflies and bees! I doubt there's much downside to this one...just when they die...then I miss them until the next year! Didn't see a lot this year, with the drought and all.

Had no idea there was a Monarda that would grow here without supplemental water. Guess I'll be trying it out next Spring. Thanks!

That monarda grows all over here too.

Around here we might be having a good display of spring wildflowers next year! With all the recent rain/drizzle, I can see little plants all over. That Monarda, however...those actually come up in spring.

Jen, that monarda is just as beautiful as any hybrid.

Wonder where we can get seeds of the wild ones?

You can get Monarda citridora here.
http://www.seedsource.com/cata...

Wooooooo Hooooooooooo! Another beauty to add to my wildflower meadow when the time comes.

Thanks Jay!

I don't see much in the way of blossoms until very late spring and the summer months. They show up in my area right before the Indian blanket and sunflowers come sweeping through. These came up this past season in spite of the crippling drought that we had here, so they must be incredibly xeric. I'll have to figure out how to collect seed from them. I love the alternating white and purple color.

After the blooms look kind of dried up, you can cut the stems under the blooms and put them in a paper bag and shake the bag. Then wait a week and shake it again. Should be seeds in the bag. Unfortunately, I didn't collect any this year. 2011 was not the best year for seeds here.