Red Bush Monkey Flower can be found
from San Diego through Ventura Counties. Plants do well in full sun
near the coast but will perform better with east and north exposures further inland.
Mimulus puniceus blooms from mid winter into
the summer. From a landscape standpoint it is a somewhat difficult plant because it
will not accept much summer water. In an irrigated landscape tending
to the individual needs of plants is sometimes difficult. In a wild
garden setting this plant is striking. . It is best to plant Mimulus
puniceus in the Fall and water it a few times to keep it going until
the rains come. By the end of the rainy period in Spring your Sticky
Monkey Flower should be established. I have lost Mimulus puniceus a number of times
in irrigated landscapes and at best the Red Bush Monkey Flower will be
relatively short lived. I have seen Sticky Monkey Flowers growing in extremely well drained
situations as well as in heavy soils. Hummingbirds like these long
slender throated flowers. Mimulus is a larval host for the Checkerspot
and Common Buckeye Butterflies
High resolution images of
Mimulus puniceus are available.
