The Monkey flowers has an irresistible
little “faces,” and they actually provide a long season of color and charm in
moist or wet parts of the landscape. The blossoms actually last from spring
until fall and it thrive in wet areas, including stream banks, marshes, and wet
meadows. The Monkey flowers also grow well in flower borders as long as you
keep the soil moist.
Information about Monkey Flower
The Monkey flowers (Mimulus ringens)
are actually native North American wildflowers that thrive in USDA plant
hardiness zones three through nine. The one and half inch flowers have an upper
petal with 2 lobes and a lower petal with 3 lobes. The blossoms are often
spotted and multi-colored and the overall appearance resembles a monkey’s face.
Actually taking care of monkey flowers is very easy as long as they get plenty
of moisture. Monkey flowers really thrive in full sun or partial shade. Also, the
monkey flower plant is an important larval host for Common Buckeye butterflies
and Baltimore. Some of these lovely butterflies lay their eggs on the foliage,
which provides an immediate food source once the caterpillars hatch.
How to Grow Monkey Flower Plant
If you want to start your monkey
flower plants indoors, you need to plant them about ten weeks before the last
spring frost and then place them in clear plastic bags in the refrigerator to
chill. If you want to plant them outdoors, you can plant them in late winter
and then let the cold winter temperatures chill the monkey flower seeds for
you. The monkey flower seeds need light to germinate, so don’t cover them with
soil. When you bring the seed trays out of the refrigerator, make sure you place
them in a location with temperatures between seventy and seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit
and also provide plenty of bright light. Remove the seed trays from the bag as
soon as the monkey flower seeds germinate. Make sure you space the monkey
flower plants according to the size of the plant. Space the small varieties six
to eight inches apart, medium-sized types twelve to twenty-four inches apart,
and the large types twenty-four to thirty-six inches apart. Actually growing
monkey flower in hot climates is a challenge. If you actually want to give it a
try you can plant it in a location that is shaded most of the afternoon.
How to Care for Monkey Flower Plant
Actually Monkey flower plant care is
quite minimal. You need to keep the soil moist at all times. A two to four inch
layer of mulch will help prevent moisture evaporation. This is very vital in
warmer regions. Make sure you always pick off the faded blossoms in other to
encourage a fresh flush of flowers.
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