# Coastal Monkeyflower (*Erythranthe dentata*) The Coastal Monkeyflower is a bright and cheerful flower that grows near the coast. Its colorful blooms attract butterflies and bees, making it a fun sight in nature! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 9 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Coastal Monkeyflower](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Mimulus_dentatus_3856.JPG&width=800) Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mimulus_dentatus_3856.JPG) ## Appearance The Coastal Monkeyflower has vibrant yellow, often with orange or red-brown spotted, tubular flowers that resemble a grinning monkey face. Its short stems bear opposite, bright green, slightly succulent leaves that are sometimes toothed, giving it a fresh, clumping appearance. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Lamiales - **Family:** Phrymaceae - **Genus:** Erythranthe ## Interesting facts - Coastal Monkeyflowers can grow directly in running water, holding firm with their strong roots! - Its scientific name, Erythranthe, surprisingly means 'red flower,' even though many species are bright yellow! - Some monkeyflowers were traditionally used by Native Americans to make poultices for skin irritations! - The tiny seeds are so light, they can be carried by a gentle breeze or even float on water to new homes! ## Special abilities - **Water Dweller:** Coastal Monkeyflower can grow in very wet soil and even shallow water, thanks to roots adapted to prevent waterlogging. - **Nectar Guides:** Coastal Monkeyflower has bright, contrasting spots on its petals acting as 'nectar guides' to direct insects to its pollen. - **Quick Bloomer:** Coastal Monkeyflower can quickly grow and flower in temporary wet areas, completing its cycle before conditions dry out. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-30 cm - **Spread:** 15-45 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-4 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to late summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen from its blooms. - **Pollinates:** Yellow-faced Bumblebee (*Bombus vosnesenskii*) — A native bee often seen visiting the flowers. - **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — May occasionally browse on its leaves and stems. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch flowers without asking an adult first. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Coastal Monkeyflower? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Coastal Monkeyflower? 10-30 cm ### How wide does Coastal Monkeyflower spread? 15-45 cm ### How big are the flowers on Coastal Monkeyflower? 2-4 cm ### When does Coastal Monkeyflower bloom? Spring to late summer ### Is Coastal Monkeyflower edible? No ### Is Coastal Monkeyflower toxic? None ### What is Coastal Monkeyflower's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Old Town Eureka](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/old-town-eureka) — California, US · Historic District - [Quinault Rainforest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/quinault-rainforest) — Washington, US · Forest - [Redwood National and State Parks](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/redwood-national-and-state-parks) — California, US · National Park - [Sequoia Park Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sequoia-park-zoo) — California, US · Zoo [View all places to see Coastal Monkeyflower](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/coastal-monkeyflower) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Coastal Monkeyflower: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coastal-monkeyflower)