*Note:The geographic distribution of the M. fistulosa depends greatly on the reference being used. Some authorities may consider what is denoted on this site as a separate species of Monarda to actually be merely a subspecies of M. fistulosa. Under those circumstances, the overall range of the primary species may be greatly affected. For example, the M. menthaefolia is occasionally considered a subspecies of the fistulosa, which would cause the range of the fistulosa to extend all the way to the western coast of the US (since the range of M. menthaefolia is entirely in the western US)
Monarda fistulosa L. | ||
STATUS | REFERENCES | |
North America: Continental United States; Canada |
Yes | Grehan (1964), Krochmal (1973) |
Eastern N. America: United States east of Mississippi; Minn. (McLeod) Ontario and eastern Canada western Mexico |
Yes (see written description of ranges) | Gray (1886), Grehan (1964), Krochmal (1973), McLeod, Turner (1994) |
S.E. United States AL AR DE DC GA KY MD NC SC TN VA WV FL (possibly - only northern) TX & AZ (Krochmal) |
Yes (Fairly Abundant/Scattered in most) | Krochmal (1973), Grehan (1964), Gray (1886) |
Southern Appalacian:AL GA KY MD NC SC TN VA WV | Widespread | Gray (1886), Grehan (1964), Krochmal (1973) |
Coastal Plain | No info, but probably | Ben Turnage |
Piedmont | Yes, fairly widespread | Ben Turnage, UGA Herbarium |
Blue Ridge Mts. | No Info, but probably marginal | Ben Turnage |
Ridge and Valley | Yes (abundant in cedar glade communities) |
Bartgis (1993) |
Cumberland Plateau | Yes | UGA Herbarium |
Georgia | Yes (mainly north/north-central) | UGA Herbarium |
Clarke Co., GA | No Info, but probably | Ben Turnage |
According to which authority is used, the actual range of M. fistulosa differs. Grehan (1964) claims the range extends as far north as Quebec and eastern Canada over to British Columbia and as far south as Florida. Other texts do not extend the range as far, and place limits in New England states and south to northern Georgia. All agree, however, that the western range extends into Texas and Arizona. One recent journal article places it in northeastern Mexico as well (Turner 1994). On the internet, websites for specific states show that it rarely covers all the counties of the state, but is scattered throughout the counties of the most states. From research, one could guess that it would tend to stick more inland, out of wetter counties, and away from those that are too mountainous or tree-covered, due to their nature of staying below 9000 ft and in drier, sunnier conditions (see the plant's ecological requirements.
Iowa State Univ. prairie species study
Native Wildflowers of the North Dakota Grasslands
Univ. of Tennessee Botany Department Atlas of Vascular Dicots of Tennessee
Univ. of Arkansas Biodiversity of Arkansas Project
Univ. of Kentucky Wildflowers of Western Kentucky