# red bush monkeyflower (*Diplacus puniceus*) The red bush monkeyflower is a bright and cheerful flower that loves to grow in sunny places. Its vibrant red color attracts many curious insects and makes gardens look beautiful. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![red bush monkeyflower](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/The_floral_cabinet_and_magazine_of_exotic_botany_%281840%29_%2814592249977%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Knowles, G. B. (George Beauchamp), 1829-1852; Westcott, Frederic, -1861; Baxter, W. Henry, former owner. DSI; Smith, John Donnell, 1829-1928, No restrictions · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_floral_cabinet_and_magazine_of_exotic_botany_%281840%29_%2814592249977%29.jpg) ## Appearance The red bush monkeyflower has brilliant, trumpet-shaped red flowers often blotched with orange, giving them a velvety look. Its sticky, oblong green leaves grow opposite each other on woody stems, standing out on dry hillsides. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Lamiales - **Family:** Phrymaceae - **Genus:** Diplacus ## Interesting facts - Its 'monkeyface' flowers appear to grin, named for their fun, puckered shape! - Some monkeyflowers can change flower color depending on the specific minerals in the soil! - The sticky resin on its leaves helps protect it from hungry insects and water loss. - This tough plant can live for many years, even in harsh, rocky environments. ## Special abilities - **Drought Dynamo:** The red bush monkeyflower can survive very dry conditions, thanks to its deep root system that finds precious water underground. - **Fire Fighter's Friend:** This resilient plant can quickly resprout from its root crown after wildfires, helping nature recover faster. - **Hummingbird Helper:** Its bright red, tubular flowers are perfectly shaped to attract hummingbirds, which helps it spread its pollen. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-120 cm - **Spread:** 60-90 cm - **Flower Size:** 2.5-5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring, Summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Bird ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) — drinks nectar from its tubular flowers - **Pollinates:** [Allen's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/allens-hummingbird) (*Selasphorus sasin*) — sips nectar and carries its pollen - **Pollinates:** Western Bumble Bee (*Bombus vosnesenskii*) — collects pollen from its bright blooms - **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — browses on its leaves and shoots ## 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. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [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 red bush 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 red bush monkeyflower? 30-120 cm ### How wide does red bush monkeyflower spread? 60-90 cm ### How big are the flowers on red bush monkeyflower? 2.5-5 cm ### When does red bush monkeyflower bloom? Spring, Summer ### Is red bush monkeyflower edible? No ### Is red bush monkeyflower toxic? None ### What is red bush monkeyflower's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Cabrillo National Monument](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cabrillo-national-monument) — California, US · National Park ## 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: [Red Bush Monkeyflower: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-bush-monkeyflower)