Mimulus puniceus - Red Bush Monkeyflower

Red Bush Monkeyflower can be found from San Diego through Ventura Counties. Mimulus puniceus Plants do well in full sun near the coast but will perform better with east and north exposures further inland. Mimulus puniceus has slender tubular red flowers from mid winter into the Summer. From a landscape standpoint Mimulus puniceus is a somewhat difficult plant because these plants 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 Red Bush Flower should be established. I have lost Mimulus puniceus a number of times in irrigated landscapes and at best the Red Bush Monkeyflower will be relatively short lived. I have seen Red Bush 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

Plant pages from the genus Mimulus featured on this site:
Mimulus aurantiacus
Mimulus bigelovii
Mimulus cardinalis
Mimulus flemingii
Mimulus Georgie Red
Mimulus guttatus
Mimulus Jack
Mimulus Jelly Bean Dark Pink
Mimulus Jelly Bean Orange
Mimulus longiflorus
Mimulus Midnight
Mimulus puniceus
Mimulus Ruby Silver