How to Grow and Care for Monkey-flowers

The seep monkeyflower is a fast-growing perennial native to California and distributed throughout North America. It grows quickly in damp soils, and the more water it receives, the faster it flourishes. This pond wildflower has a great root structure for screening water in water gardens, and its profuse yellow snapdragon-shaped flowers add a splash of color to ponds.

Scarlet Monkey Flower (Erythranthe cardinalis) is an herbaceous perennial that can grow from 30 to 91 cm tall. It blooms from spring to fall with showy red or orange flowers. Blossoms are rich in nectar and attract hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. Commonly found growing in wetlands and moist areas, it prefers partial shade but can grow in full sun. Native to western North America.

Lewis's monkeyflower gets its name from the well-known explorer of the American northwest, Meriwether Lewis. Scientifically called the Erythranthe lewisii, it is a native to western North America and draws many bees, who pollinate its blooms.

Musk (*Erythranthe moschata*) is native to western North America and has a long blooming season between spring and fall. Its common name comes from the fact that Victorian botanists often sought it for its unique aroma, although many claimed that it “lost” its scent in the early 20th century and there has since been much debate about the flower’s natural fragrance.

Tiling's monkeyflower (Erythranthe tilingii) is a perennial plant that is native to western North America. It prefers higher altitudes and often grows in moist soils near riverbanks. Between summer and fall it produces small bright yellow flowers.