monkeyflowers

Erythranthe

Monkeyflowers are bright and cheerful flowers that often grow near water. They have fun, trumpet-shaped blooms that can be yellow, pink, or purple, making them look like little smiles in nature!

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The monkeyflowers has brightly colored, often bi-colored, tubular flowers that resemble a grinning monkey's face. Petals typically have two upper lobes and three lower lobes, often with spots or stripes, creating a distinctive, whimsical appearance.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderLamialesFamilyPhrymaceaeGenusErythranthe

monkeyflowers

Interesting facts

Native Americans used some types for traditional remedies and dyes.

Some monkeyflowers were once known by the scientific name Mimulus!

Their seeds are tiny, like dust, easily carried by wind or water.

They belong to the snapdragon family, sharing a similar flower shape.

Special abilities

Some monkeyflowers can disperse their tiny seeds by water, allowing them to colonize new areas along streams and rivers.

Certain monkeyflower species have sticky stems that can trap small insects, protecting the plant from hungry pests.

Their vibrant petals often display guiding lines or spots that act as 'nectar guides' to direct pollinators to the flower's center.

Some monkeyflowers can tolerate harsh conditions like heavy metal soils by absorbing and neutralizing toxins.

Measurements & details

Height: 15-90 cm
Spread: 20-60 cm
Flower Size: 2-5 cm
Bloom Season: Spring to late fall
Edible: No
Toxicity: None
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

honey bee

Apis mellifera

Gathers nectar and pollen from the flowers.

pollinates

western bumblebee

Bombus occidentalis

Buzz-pollinates the anthers for pollen release.

eaten by

white-tailed deer

Odocoileus virginianus

Browses on the leaves and tender shoots.

eaten by

beet armyworm

Spodoptera exigua

Larvae can feed on leaves and flower parts.

Traits

Ornamental

Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.

Spring Blooming

Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.

Tube Flower

A tube flower has petals fused together at the base, forming a distinct tubular structure that typically holds nectar deep within.

Fragrant Flower

Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.