Soil series profile
Monarda soil series
Monarda is a poorly drained soil with a mucky peat surface, mapped on 1,246,103 acres in 15 counties across 4 states. Hydrologic group D.
- Drainage class
- Poorly drained >99% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- D >99% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- Not reported
- Mapped area
- 1.2M acres in 15 counties, 4 states
Typical Monarda profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–3 in (Oe) | Mucky peat | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | 53% |
| 3–6 in (Eg) | Silt loam | 4.8 | 15% | 30% | 5% |
| 6–20 in (Bg) | Silt loam | 5.2 | 16% | 34% | 1.78% |
| 20–65 in (Cd) | Gravelly silt loam | 5.7 | 17% | 33% | 0.3% |
What this means
What Monarda soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Organic muck or peat is the most common topsoil (77% of mapped Monarda acres). It is rich and holds water, but is often wet, can be acidic, and settles when drained. The most common surface texture is mucky peat (77% of mapped Monarda acres).
>99% of mapped Monarda acres is somewhat poorly to very poorly drained, so soil stays soggy for long spells after rain and in wet seasons. Raised beds, plants that tolerate wet feet, and not working the soil while wet all help.
For lawns and yards
On >99% of mapped acres, rain soaks in slowly (hydrologic groups C and D, including dual groups that are D until drained). Expect runoff and puddles after heavy rain: core-aerate compacted lawns and keep ground sloping away from foundations.
A seasonal high water table comes within 18 inches of the surface on >99% of mapped acres, often in spring. Basements, sump pumps and lawns in low spots feel it first.
For a septic system
For conventional septic absorption fields, NRCS rates >99% of the acres in mapped Monarda soils very limited, 0% somewhat limited and 0% not limited.
Where the soil is very limited (slow permeability, a high water table, flooding, shallow bedrock or steep slopes), alternative systems such as mound or sand-filter designs are common and cost more.
Only a licensed site evaluation or perc test at the actual lot decides whether a system is allowed and which design.
Where Monarda soil is found
Mapped acres
Monarda is mapped in Maine, New York, New Hampshire and Vermont.
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| Aroostook County, ME | 437,025 | 10.2% |
| Piscataquis County, ME | 290,153 | 11.7% |
| Somerset County, ME | 228,531 | 9.0% |
| Penobscot County, ME | 147,598 | 6.9% |
| Washington County, ME | 87,838 | 5.5% |
| Franklin County, ME | 19,069 | 1.7% |
| Kennebec County, ME | 14,136 | 2.6% |
| Oxford County, ME | 11,132 | 0.9% |
| Waldo County, ME | 5,451 | 1.2% |
| Columbia County, NY | 2,921 | 0.7% |
| Coos County, NH | 1,193 | 0.1% |
| Knox County, ME | 527 | 0.2% |
| Lincoln County, ME | 300 | 0.1% |
| Hancock County, ME | 177 | 0.0% |
| Lamoille County, VT | 53 | 0.0% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Monarda acres
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.0% |
| Somewhat limited | 0.0% |
| Very limited | 99.9% |
| Not rated | 0.1% |
Drainage, water table and flooding
Share of Monarda acres
- Depth to seasonal high water table
- About 6 inches (median where reported); within 18 inches on >99% of acres.
- Flooding
- Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
- Slope
- Typically 2–3% (median 3%).
- Topsoil organic matter
- Median 53%.
Drainage class
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Excessively drained | 0.0% |
| Somewhat excessively drained | 0.0% |
| Well drained | 0.0% |
| Moderately well drained | 0.0% |
| Somewhat poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Poorly drained | 99.9% |
| Very poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Not rated | 0.1% |
Hydrologic soil group
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly) | 0.0% |
| B: moderate infiltration | 0.0% |
| C: slow infiltration | 0.0% |
| D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) | 99.7% |
| A/D: D as is, A if drained | 0.0% |
| B/D: D as is, B if drained | 0.0% |
| C/D: D as is, C if drained | 0.2% |
| Not rated | 0.1% |
Sources & data dates
- Source
- USDA NRCS Soil Survey Geographic Database (SSURGO), queried through Soil Data Access. Public domain.
- Data date
- SSURGO as published on November 3, 2026 (most recent survey area update October 26, 2026). NRCS refreshes SSURGO each October.
- Scope
- All map unit components named Monarda (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 1,246,103 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Monarda components. The profile comes from the single largest Monarda component. Full methodology.