Species monkey flower

monkey flower

Mimulus aurantiacus

The Monkey Flower (Mimulus aurantiacus) is an herbaceous flowering perennial native to wet and damp habitats in the western United States. It has attractive orange-red single or double flowers with a yellow throat that appear between April and July. A dense mat of almond-scented foliage grows up to 8 inches in tall. This hearty and hardy plant is drought-tolerant and grows well in sun to partial shade. It also spreads rapidly, eventually forming a mound of bright yellow-orange blooms. With its long blooming period, it provides a continuous colorful display in the garden.

Cycle:

Herbaceous Perennial

Watering:

Frequent

Propagation:

Seed Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

7

Flowers:

Showy, Yellow, Orange, Red Flowers In Summer

Sun:

Full sun, Part sun/part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

High

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Monkey flower (Mimulus aurantiacus) should be watered about twice a week, for the first month after planting. This is to ensure the soil remains moist during the establishment period. Afterwards, once the plant is established, you should water it once a week, or as necessary if the soil is drying out. It's important to water Monkey flower deeply, allowing the water to penetrate down 8-10 inches to the roots of the plant. Do not water shallowly as this will encourage shallow roots, which will make the plant more susceptible to drought and other environmental conditions. During the summer, water when the soil has dried out to a depth of 1 inch. During the winter, reduce watering to once every 2 weeks or less. If you live in an area with heavy rainfall, you will need to water less often.

sunlight

Monkey flower (Mimulus aurantiacus) prefers full sunlight for optimum growth and blooming. Depending on the region, this species needs 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight each day during the growing season. If full sunlight is not available, the plant will tolerate partial shade but will not bloom. In areas where the sun is strong, it is best to provide some shade during the hottest parts of the day, especially in the afternoon and early evening. If possible, the plant should be placed in an area with morning sunlight and early afternoon shade.

pruning

Monkey flower (Mimulus aurantiacus) should be pruned back during the early stages of summer. This will encourage larger and more plentiful flowers. A light pruning is best, which means removing no more than 1-third of the plant’s live foliage. For any dead or discoloured leaves, remove them as soon as they are spotted to ensure the health and beauty of the plant. Pruning should be done regularly to ensure the plant remains healthy and continues to produce colourful flowers.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Mimulus aurantiacus typically starts flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Starts Flowering

Mimulus aurantiacus typically starts flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Hardiness Map