Click on the image thumbnail to the right to enlarge -›››

Mimulus puniceus – Scrophulariaceae - ‘Red Bush Monkeyflower,' Diplacus puniceus. - This native of the hills of Southern California is quite beautiful in flower and a favorite of hummingbirds. Gardeners in favorable zones (mild temperatures and sandy soils) can expect many months of flowers, and even gardeners in less favorable zones will get a month or two of flowers before heat brings on dormancy. Like its hillside neighbors in its habitat, such as White Sage and Dudleya pulverulenta, Red Bush Monkeyflower is perfectly tolerant of no summer water, but a little supplemental water helps keep the plant looking its best, and extends flowering too.

This plant makes a fine low shrub, about 2-'3' in height x 4'-5' in diameter. It will grow in full sun in the coastal fog belt, but prefers some shade in the interior zones where the plant is native. It is hardy to brief drops to 25ºF, perhaps a little lower. Pictured here growing in habitat in San Diego County.