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Mimulus cardinalis 'Helena Spring Red' – Scrophulariaceae - 'Scarlet Monkeyflower.' – This is a variety of the scarlet Mimulus cardinalis that was found and saved in the wilds of California near the North Fork of the Trinity River. The flowers are a lovely deep red, with golden bee lines in the center. A native of wet seeps, it is a plant for the margins of streams and clean ponds, or also does quite well in ordinary garden soils, flowering from summer 'till frost. It is very attractive to hummingbirds.

Monkeyflowers spread by a rhizomatous network and will make quite a patch in wet soils, but behave in a more restrained manner in drier garden soils. An herbaceous perennial, the tops will die back in the winter, only to return more strongly the following year. Hardy to 0°F.