How to Grow and Care for Mimulus

This perennial, the allegheny Monkeyflower, is best grown to prevent erosion on waterways and pond borders. Although the flowers look like snapdragon blooms, if you squeeze them together with your fingers, they will look like a smiling monkey, giving the plant its name.

Sharpwing monkeyflower is a native species to eastern North America. The flowers of sharpwing monkeyflower resemble a monkey's face, hence the name. Although the plant produces a lot of flowers, just a few of them are found on the plant at the same time. This species attracts bumblebees which are its main pollinators.

A member of the RHS Award of Garden Merit winners, yellow blotched monkey flower 'Highland Red' is renowned for its low and spreading habit and prolific red blooms. Cultivated as a Mimulus hybrid, this cultivar was named after its most striking feature: the waves of highland-red flowers. Yellow blotched monkey flower 'Highland Red' won its prestige for its floriferous habit, attractive foliage, and nice growth habit.

Mimulus naiandinus 'Andean Nymph' is a charming Chilean monkey flower that richly deserves to be compared to a mythical nymph from the plant’s native home in the Andean mountains of South America. This hybrid is larger than the parent plant, growing up to about 60 cm in comparison to the parent’s height of about 20 cm. The bright flowers bring color to ornamental gardens and attract butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects.

Mimulus cupreus 'Whitecroft Scarlet' flaunts striking scarlet blooms with a velvety sheen, a testament to its common name. Its emerald-green foliage creates a luscious backdrop for the vibrant flowers. This perennial thrives in well-drained soil, partially shaded environments where its colors can gleam without the full glare of the sun, accentuating its ornamental appeal.