1. *Tricolor monkeyflower – Mimulus tricolor (MIM-you-lus TRY-color)
Family: Phrymaceae (Monkeyflower Family)
Native to: OR and northern CA; edges of vernal pools in Coastal Ranges and Great Central Valley.
Growth characteristics: annual wildflower mature height: < 1 ft. mature width: < 1
Tiny (usually 4-6 inches tall) annual wildflower. Leaves opposite, lance-shaped and slightly hairy.
Foliage usually in tufts, clammy to touch.
Blooms/fruits: Blooms in spring – Mar-May. Flowers are striking – with typical monkeyflower
shape. The wide mouth is deep pink in color with a white and yellow blotched throat and a large
maroon spot at the base of each lobe. One of the prettiest CA native monkeyflowers.
Uses in the garden: Mostly used in moist settings- around a pond/pool or in a rain garden or swale.
Would make a lovely container plant or in a bog container. Consider for winter damp areas of the
garden, around bird drinkers, areas that get overspray, anywhere that Mimulus guttatus does well.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native monkeyflowers.
Attracts: Good insect pollinator habitat.
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Full sun best; light shade probably ok.
Soil Most; in nature, sandy soils; any local pH.
Water Needs moist conditions in winter/spring until flowering ceases; then decrease water
for good seed production.
Fertilizer Not needed.
Other Gravel mulch should work well. No bark/ship mulch.
Management: Easy if plenty of winter rain – other-wise irrigate. Collect seed or let plants self-
seed. Will likely self-seed if happy.
Propagation: from seed: likely easy with no pretreatment required.
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 48 4/27/14
© Project SOUND
* not native to western Los Angeles County, but a CA native