About
Mimulus cardinalis, the scarlet monkey flower, is an upright perennial to 80 cm, often grown as an annual, producing sticky, hairy stems with toothed, oval leaves. From early summer to mid-autumn it bears a succession of large, two-lipped, scarlet flowers to 5 cm long. A colourful and rewarding plant for a moist, sunny border or pond margin.
About the genus
Mimulus, the monkey flowers, are annuals, perennials and evergreen shrubs with paired leaves and two-lipped, tubular or trumpet-shaped flowers in a wide range of colours, often spotted or blotched, in spring and summer. Grown in moist, sunny or partly shaded borders and pond margins.
Plant details
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Suggested usesMixed borders, hedging, foundation planting.
Native toW USA to Mexico
Care notes
CultivationGrow in wet, humus-rich soil in full sun or very light dappled shade, can also be planted at pond margins in up to 10cm of water. See pond plants and bog gardens for further advice
PruningCut back after flowering
PropagationPropagate by seed sown in autumn or early spring, or by division in spring
Pest resistanceSlugs and snails can be a problem
Disease resistanceYoung plants are susceptible to powdery mildews