Mimulus ringens is a rhizomatous, upright perennial which typically occurs in swampy areas, wet meadows, pond/streambanks, and low woods. It is best grown in part shade. The flowers look something like a monkey's face, giving it the common name. The blooms appear as solitary long-stalked flowers. They will grow as a pair, opposite each other on the leaf axils at the upper portion of the plant. Typically, they will bloom on different days. Plant in 1-2 gallon containers using rich soil. Cover with 0.5-2 in. of water. Host plant for the Common buckeye ( Junonia coenia ) and Baltimore checkerspot ( euphydryas phaeton ) butterflies. Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: No issues noted.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Herbaceous Perennial; Native Plant; Water Plant; Wildflower
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt)
Soil drainage
Moist | Occasionally Wet
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Lanceolate; Oblong
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf size
3-6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Up to 4" long, the dark green, oblong leaves taper at both ends.
Flower color
Blue; Pink; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Showy
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
A solitary, blue, violet, red or pink snapdragon-like flowers (to 1" long) with two-lipped, open-mouthed corollas. Flowers appear in pairs in the leaf axils on slender 1-2" long pedicels.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The fruit grows as an oblong capsule, each containing from 500 to 1000 seeds. They are spread by the wind and spread on the surface of the surrounding areas.
Stem detail
Square stems with a groove on the sides. Many branches on the lower part of the plant.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
North America
Distribution
AL, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, ID, IL, IL, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV