all i know about 1 and 3 ... is they are weeds ...

one would expect if it was oregano.. and you crushed a leaf.. you would smell O???

could 4th be rose campion??? ... the full sun shots are washing color out a bit.. is it frosty blue???

also try to avoid.. straight down pix ... for some reason.. that can be a problem ...

any chance the second smelled of mint.. or catnip???

ken

1 looks like a mint/oregano... Is the stem 4-sided? 2 looks like a perilla. 3's a deadnettle. 4 does look like lamb's ear.

#2 looks like the bee balm I now have coming up

As perennial.all said except I believe s/he has 2 and 3 transposed. 3 being Lamium purpureum.

Oops I did indeed, thank you floral. Fixed now.

Okay,

1 is Oregano. I squeezed a leaf and it smell like oregano. I should've thought of that before.

#2 does have square stems. It's growing so fast. It's covering an area about 4x3 feet and it wasn't there last year. I have to start writing things down. I did plant some stuff last year but it wasn't spread out like that. It's kind of spreading on runners.I've never seen bee balm with the leaves having a purple tinge.

I'll get rid of #3.

I rubbed #4 and it's not sage. I have lamb's ear about 20 feet away. A seed must've blown astray.

I agree with Peren.all's list. Monarda/bee balm has a distinctive scent, related to mint but not the same - like Earl Grey tea.

Bonnie, scent is a really important aid in identification, as you have realised. Don't worry, you are not alone in not thinking about it when you find a new plant. If the last one had been sage a quick sniff would have betrayed it. Bee Balm too.

also .... a scale is often helpful ... that first pic.. sure looks like a tiny weed of which i dont know the name .... or the absolute smallest oregano i ever saw ...

regardless of all that.. i do not doubt.. for one minute.. what the sperts above agree one...

ken

It's oregano. I crushed the leaves of #2 and it smelled of mint, so I guess that's another indication it's Bee Balm?

Yes Bonnie the scent is an excellent indicator as well as the square stem. The quick spread is another clue.

You mentioned the purple tinge to the foliage. It is indicative of cool/cold weather in this case. In a different situation it could also indicate a soil deficiency which is not the case here. It certainly can be natural leaf coloration in some plants but again not applicable here, at least not with any Monarda I am familiar with.

peren--- before this weekend it was warm enough for things to start growing but still cool...upper 30's at night to low 50's day. And it's close to the house adding a bit of warmth. Thank you so much for your help.

My bee balm also has the purplish tint to the leaves. I have noticed the tint in previous years but this year it seems to be especially pronounced. I have 4 different planting areas that are several yeas old, appear to be happy, and have 3 different varieties. They all have the purple tint. Central Ga temps have been all over the place !

You are very welcome Bonnie! Enjoy the hummingbirds that will most likely come to enjoy your Monarda!

Yes it has been a crazy winter - like a yo-yo here too Old Forester.