Shrubby beebalm is endemic to the far southern tip of Texas, and perhaps adjacent Mexico, growing in sandy loam under full sun in genuinely arid conditions. Its heavily branched, almost woody stems are unusual in a genus of soft-stemmed perennials, giving it a structural quality that earns the shrubby in its name. The fragrant pink flowers attract native bees and bumblebees, and the plant can reach 2 feet tall in a dry, sun-drenched spot where it is comfortable.

Humidity is the enemy here: this species evolved in low-moisture conditions and tends to struggle in the wetter climates of the eastern United States, where powdery mildew hits it harder than it does the eastern-native species. Gardeners in the Carolinas or the humid South would do better with Monarda didyma or M. fistulosa, both of which have the moisture tolerance that this species lacks. Where conditions align — a dry, rocky, full-sun garden in zones 9 to 10 — it makes an interesting and little-seen addition to a drought-tolerant or xeric pollinator planting.