Mimulus ringens Monkey Flower

Ohio Native Plant Natural Range

To view the natural range of Mimulus ringens visit the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service website.
Mimulus ringen flowers

Cultivation Information Monkey Flower

Height - 1 to 3 ftFlower Color - Pale Purple, Light blueBlooms - June - SeptemberSun - Full to Part SunSoil - Moist to Wet - Obligated WetlandPerennial Hardy Zone - 3 to 9Propagates by seed (500 to 1000 seed) per capsule & rhizomesIdeal Location - Rain gardens and pond edges
Family - Phrymaceae (Lopseed)
Propagation Notes Mimulus ringens
Stratifying Seeds
Cold Moist Storage - 60 days - do not cover seeds when planting, as they need light to germinate. With small seeds - I play it safe when working with tiny seeds like Monkey Flower and assume they need light in order to germinate. Seeds placed in Cold Moist Storage Supplies Needed For Seed Stratification -1. Zip lock plastic bag2. Few tablespoons of Vermiculite3. Dampened vermiculite - not soggy4. Store in refrigerator for 60 days Seeds require light and cold, moist storage in order to germinate
Seed Provenance Mimulus ringens
Nodding Onion Gardens 2020, Native Bee-ginnings, Pennsylvania 2019
In the fall Mimulus ringens seed pods progress from green to brown

Wildlife Significance Monkey Flower

Nectar Source - For wasps, butterflies: Swallowtail, Viceroy, Monarchs, sulfurs, grass skippers, fritillaries numerous bees including bumblebees, sweat bees and sunflower leafcutter bees, flies, and beetles
Pollen Source - Bees, flies and beetles
Host plant - For the Pearl Crescent butterfly, various checkerspots as well as 12 other butterflies.
Oligolectic Bees - are bees that are very particular as to what plant family they gather their nectar and pollen. Purple Coneflower is such a plant for the Andrena helianthiformis.Andrea - Mining Bees Pollination - BumblebeesNectar - HummingbirdsLeaves - Nutrition for Geometrid moth caterpillar
Host Plant - For Caterpillars - Common Buckeye, Baltimore checkerspots, Oligophagous aphid Deer - Not their first choice For detailed information, visit the Illinois Wildflower site
Look Who Visited our Monkey Flowers
Geometrid moth caterpillar on Monkey Flower
Geometrid moth caterpillar
They understand the term camouflage. Not only do they have the ability to blend into their surroundings, their physical strength is incredible! Imagine holding yourself in the same position for 6 hours or more. With the back “legs” (I doubt that is what they are called) adhere to the stem, holding the body out like a branch. My guess is this goes on all day until dusk, once the sun begins to set it will once again enjoy leaves of the Monkey Flowers. I offered her: Black-eyed Susan's, Obedient Plant, her preference - Monkey Flower.!