Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Mimulus primuloides is a species of monkeyflower known by the common name primrose monkeyflower. It is native to the western United States, where it grows in wet habitat in mountains and plateau areas, such as streambanks. It is a perennial herb growing in low patches or mosslike mats and spreading via rhizome and stolon. The stem is no more than about 12 centimeters long. The oppositely arranged leaves are variable in shape, variable in color from green to purple-green, shaggy-hairy to hairless, and up to 5 centimeters long. The flower arises on an erect pedicel. The tubular base of the flower is encapsulated in a hairless calyx of sepals. The bright yellow flower is up to 2 centimeters long. It is divided into an upper lip with two lobes and a lower lip with three. Each of the three lower lobes are usually dotted with red.

Plant type

Perennial herb

Size

5 - 18 in Tall

Form

Mounding

Growth rate

Moderate

Calscape icon
Color

Red, Yellow

Flowering season

Spring, Winter

Special uses

Containers

Sun

Full Sun

Water

High

Soil description

Prefers loamy or clay soils. Grows poorly in sandy soils.

Propagation

For propagating by seed: No treatment.

Site type

Wet meadows, seeps, streamsides

Plant communities

Lodgepole Forest, Red Fir Forest, Yellow Pine Forest, Wetland-Riparian

Hummingbirds
Birds
Bees
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 9 likely

Confirmed Likely

Annaphila decia

Annaphila lithosina

Annaphila miona

Variable Checkerspot

Euphydryas chalcedona