Mimulus ringens, commonly called Allegheny monkey flower or square-stemmed monkey flower, is a rhizomatous, Mid-Atlantic native, upright perennial which typically occurs in swampy areas, wet meadows, pond/streambanks and low woods. The flower looks something like a monkey's face, hence the common and genus names, the latter from the Latin mimus ("a buffoon or monkey").
Typically grows 1-3' tall on erect, square, sometimes branching stems. Features lilac-purple, snapdragon-like flowers (to 1" long) with two-lipped, open-mouthed corollas. Flowers appear in pairs on opposite sides of the stem, above opposite 2-4" oblong, sharply-toothed leaves. Flowers bloom throughout the summer. [Adapted from missouribotanicalgarden.org]
Larval Host for the
Baltimore Checkerspot, Common Buckeye
1-3'
0.75-1'
SIZE
SOIL
Moist, Wet, Loam
LIGHT
Part Shade, Sun
BENEFITS
Butterfiles
NOTES
Native throughout the Mid-Atlantic, but rarer in warmer coastal plain areas. Larval host to the Common Buckeye and Baltimore Checkerspots butterflies. Make sure to plant where the soil won't dry out!
CHARACTERISTICS
Relatively pest free, Flood tolerant, Tolerates Wet, Low Maintenance, Deer tolerant, Perennial, Showy Flowers, Will Naturalize
June, July, August, September
Flower
This
flowers in
Allegheny Monkeyflower
Mimulus ringens
DETAIL VIEW
DESCRIPTION
Mimulus ringens, commonly called Allegheny monkey flower or square-stemmed monkey flower, is a rhizomatous, Mid-Atlantic native, upright perennial which typically occurs in swampy areas, wet meadows, pond/streambanks and low woods. The flower looks something like a monkey's face, hence the common and genus names, the latter from the Latin mimus ("a buffoon or monkey").
Typically grows 1-3' tall on erect, square, sometimes branching stems. Features lilac-purple, snapdragon-like flowers (to 1" long) with two-lipped, open-mouthed corollas. Flowers appear in pairs on opposite sides of the stem, above opposite 2-4" oblong, sharply-toothed leaves. Flowers bloom throughout the summer. [Adapted from missouribotanicalgarden.org]