Allegheny Monkeyflower

Botanical Name: Mimulus ringens

Height: about 60 cm. Highly variable with soil conditions

Season of bloom: Summer.

Growing Conditions: Sun. Moist to wet soil. Plants will move about via rhizomes. They will decline if kept in a pot unless divided and planted in fresh soil but they are easy self-sowers. Very good for naturalizing cottage shorelines.

Wildlife benefits:  Bumblebees are strong enough to force their way into the partially closed throat of the flower. Caterpillars of the Buckeye butterfly feed on the foliage. Although White Turtlehead is the primary host plant, later instars of Baltimore Checkerspot caterpillars sometimes migrate to feed on Monkey Flower – reason enough to plant Monkey Flower together with White Turtlehead in your wetland garden.

From Ottawa Valley or eastern Ontario sources: Yes

Seeds: Germination Code: C(60) + D. Seeds are tiny and need light to germinate. Sow seed as thinly as possible on the surface of a pot of seed starting mix, spritz lightly with water to settle the seed against the soil, place pot in a Ziplock freezer baggie and put in the refrigerator (or outdoors under the snow) for 60 days. Bring into warm to germinate. Plants will often self-sow.

Remarks: Seldom a great many blooms at one time, but plants are in bloom for a long period.

Similar species: Not all that similar, but you may also like in Marsh Skullcap.

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