Monkeyflowers - Notes

1/6/2013

1

© Project SOUND

Out of the Wilds and Into Your Garden

Gardening with Western L.A. County Native Plants Project SOUND – 2011 (our 7th year)

© Project SOUND

More (Magnificent)

Monkeyflowers

C.M. Vadheim and T. Drake

CSUDH & Madrona Marsh Preserve

Madrona Marsh Preserve

March 5 & 8, 2011

Monkeyflowers have always enchanted

gardeners Introduced to British Isles over 200

years ago – seed brought back from N. America

As with many other California native plants, bush monkeyflowers were first cultivated in British gardens.

Plants of Mimulus aurantiacus were grown as far back as 1796 from seed collected in Monterey or San Francisco by botanist Archibald Menzies.

The May 1838 issue of Curtis Botanical Magazine includes a glowing description of Mimulus puniceus, "A very elegant shrub, flourishing in its native soil nearly the whole year ... it cannot fail to prove a great ornament to our gardens.“

© Project SOUND

http://americanart.si.edu/collections/search/artwork/?id=25906

Monkeyflowers have always enchanted

the gardener

Mimulus May come either from the Greek

mimo, "an ape," because of a resemblance on the markings of the seeds to the face of a monkey, or

From the Latin mimus, "an actor or mimic," because the flower is like the mouthpiece of one of the grinning masks worn by classical actors

The Monkeyflowers are at the center of scientific activity right now – for several reasons

© Project SOUND

http://americanart.si.edu/collections/search/artwork/?id=25906

1/6/2013

2

© Project SOUND

Kingdom Plantae – Plants Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons Subclass Asteridae Order Scrophulariales Family Scrophulariaceae – Figwort family Genus Gambelia Nutt. – greenbright Species Gambelia speciosa Nutt. – showy greenbright

Where do the CA Monkeyflowers fit?

© Project SOUND

Chinese Houses - Collinsia

Showy Penstemon

Linnaeus first classified

the Monkeyflowers

What family do the Monkeyflowers

belong to?

Linnaeus placed the genus Mimulus in Scrophulariaceae, the Figwort Family, and there it remained in botanical literature until the mid 1990s, when, due to the findings of genetic research, the Figwort Family was greatly dismembered.

Disintegration of the Scrophulariaceae - Richard G. Olmstead, Claude W. dePamphilis, Andrea D. Wolfe, Nelson D. Young, Wayne J. Elisons and Patrick A. Reeves, American Journal of Botany. 2001;88:348-361

© Project SOUND

Modern taxonomists base their grouping

on similarities at the DNA level

DNA – the ‘code of life’

Plants have DNA from 3 sources: Nucleus

Mitochonria

Chloroplast

© Project SOUND http://www.plantbio.uga.edu/~chris/atlanta.html

Passed down from mother

only (maternal DNA)

http://geneticssuite.net/node/11

1/6/2013

3

Molecular taxonomy groups plants

based on similar DNA sequences

DNA is extracted

Then the code is compared for different taxa [for example different ‘species’] Direct sequencing

Other techniques that look for similarities in key regions of the DNA

Finally, a taxonomic tree is developed based on similarities/ differences between taxa

© Project SOUND http://www.nature.com/nrg/journal/v9/n8/box/nrg2386_BX3.html

The Scropulariacea was a

very un-natural ‘family’

‘…an unnatural assemblage of plants distributed throughout the phylogenetic tree of Lamiales (Mint-like plants).’

Characterized by a suite of generalized traits, which may be plesiomorphic or commonly recurring in the Lamiales.

The lack of distinguishing characters have precluded division into well-defined clades that are traditionally recognized as families.

Additional segregate genera, including Mimulus, await further

work to assess their taxonomic status.

© Project SOUND http://www.amjbot.org/cgi/content/full/88/2/348

What family do the Monkeyflowers

belong to?

Mimulus was placed in Phrymaceae, the Lopseed Family

Now consists of eleven genera and about 190 species.

‘Mimulus’ is comprised of about 120 species, and about 99 are endemic to western North America and Mexico. About 10 species occur in temperate South America, and the remainder occur in eastern North America (2 species), Australia (4 species), the Himalayan region (4 species), Madagascar (2 species) and South Africa (1 species).14

© Project SOUND

Whatever Happened to the Scrophulariaceae? by Richard G. Olmstead in the journal

Fremontia, vol 30 #2, April 2002 published by the California Native Plant Society

Phrymaceae (Lopseed family)

Mainly defined by the following three characteristics:

Tubular, toothed calyces (5 lobes).

Stigmas with two lamellas with sensitive inner surfaces, that close together on contact with a pollinator.

Capsules that are readily dehiscent in the length between the partitions of the locule.

The floral structures can be rather different. Their corollas can be bilaterally or radially symmetrical, making description difficult.

© Project SOUND

http://www.flickr.com/photos/seaweedlady/2702128598/

http://www.wnmu.edu/academic/nspages/gilaflora/mimulus_guttatus.html

1/6/2013

4

Phrymaceae - much variability among/between

‘species’

Members occur in diverse habitats, ranging from deserts, river banks or mountains.

They can be annuals or perennials, from < 1 to 15 ft tall.

Even reproduction is brought about by different breeding systems: asexual, self-fertilizing, outcrossing or mixed mating. Some are pollinated by insects, others by hummingbirds.

© Project SOUND

http://chestofbooks.com/flora-plants/flowers/Western-Wild-

Flowers/Monkey-Flower-Mimulus-Brevipes-Yellow-Spring-

California.html

Redefining Phrymaceae: the placement of Mimulus,

tribe Mimuleae, and Phryma Paul M. Beardsley and Richard G. Olmstead - 2002

Chloroplast trnL/F and nuclear ribosomal ITS and ETS sequence data were used to analyze phylogenetic relationships among members of tribe Mimuleae (Scrophulariaceae) and other closely related families in Lamiales. The results of these analyses led to the

following conclusions.

Mimulus is not monophyletic

In light of the molecular evidence, it is clear that species of Phrymaceae (~190 species) have undergone two geographically distinct radiations; one in western North America (~ 130 species) and another in Australia (about 30 species).

© Project SOUND

Patterns of evolution in

western North American

Mimulus (Phrymaceae)

P M. Beardsley, Steve E. Schoenig, Justen B.

Whittall and Richard G. Olmstead (2004)

Looked at many common & rare species from Western N. America

Findings suggest that the classification (and nomenclature) may be complex

© Project SOUND

A parsimonious

tree

Note: the shrubby Monkeyflower types cluster together

© Project SOUND

1/6/2013

5

continued

The herbaceous types are complex – and previous classifications are not entire consistent with the DNA-based evidence

© Project SOUND

What does that mean for us as

gardeners? Tons of troubles

Even the experts can’t agree right now Jepson’s manual now lumps many shrubby Monkeyflowers

under Diplacus aurantiacus This extreme lumping probably obscures some evolutional

differences – and ones of importance to the gardiner (flower size; color)

Other manuals (and ITIS/Plants) have kept many of the old names/classes

The horticultural trade – in despair – has sometimes used the old names & sometimes made up their own

And then there are those pesky hybrids! © Project SOUND

http://www.chemistryland.com/CHM130W/01-Intro/00-Obstacles/PitfallsOfLearning.htm

Most CA taxonomists agree to the

following division (at least for now)

Genus Diplacus Shrubby/bush Monkeyflowers

Really are sub-shrubs – 2-4 ft tall

Flowers usually in reds & oranges

Common in drier areas at mid-elevations (foothills)

Genus Mimulus Herbaceous Monkeyflowers

Perennials or annuals - < 2 ft tall

Flowers often yellow – but not always

From wet places: low to very high elevations (riparian; seeps; etc.)

© Project SOUND © Project SOUND

Sticky (Bush) Monkey Flower - Diplacus aurantiacus

http://www.flickr.com/photos/36386822@N07/3458022529

1/6/2013

6

You may have seen Sticky

Monkeyflower in Santa Monica Mtns

© Project SOUND http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/113496/

© Project SOUND

Sticky Monkeyflower is typical of the shrubby Diplacus

rocky hillsides

cliffs

canyon slopes

disturbed areas

borders of coastal sage scrub, chaparral, open forest

http://www.timetotrack.com/jay/monkeyb2.htm

http://members.aol.com/skkato1/StickyM.html

Dry, open areas with poor soils

© Project SOUND

Growth habit and other characteristics

Size: 2-4 ft tall and wide

Narrow glossy sticky dark green leaves

Summer-deciduous in hot climates/gardens

Attractive mounding to sprawling shape

Lives to 10 years – slightly less in gardens, particularly if given summer water

Young leaves can be eaten (a bit bitter, tho’) and were used as an antiseptic for cuts, rope burns, etc.

© Project SOUND

Flowers are also

representative….

Shape: typical of Phrymaceae Tubular, toothed calyces (five lobes).

Stigmas with two lamellas. The stigma lips will close if you poke them with a twig, but will open again later. If pollen was deposited however, they will remain closed.

Capsules that are readily dehiscent in the length between the partitions

Blooms: Mar.-Aug; long-blooming, which can be extended by pruning after first bloom

Flower color: usually buff-orange or light orange; tube usually white with 2 yellow-orange bands

Hummingbird pollinated; but also attracts bees, butterflies (esp. Checkerspots & Buckeyes)

1/6/2013

7

Light & shrubby

Monkeyflowers

What is the ‘right’ amount of light?

Dappled shade is probably optimal

High bright shade (under tall trees w/ high canopy

Morning sun (east side of structures; shrubs)

Even northern exposures, as long as they aren’t in dense shade

© Project SOUND

Consequences of light regimens

Full sun Difficult to maintain in our area

Plants will be summer dormant

Plants shorter

Light/part shade Long bloom season

May be evergreen depending on Water Zone

Good foliage & flower color

Even shadier Decreased flowering

Almost vine-like habit; like a true groundcover

© Project SOUND

http://www.phoenixinfinite.com/index.php?p=

1_13_Spring-Garden-Show-Plant-List

© Project SOUND

* Large-flowered Monkeyflower – Diplacus grandiflora

J.S. Peterson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

W. base of Sierras from Plumas & Butte to Placer Co

Rocky places below 5000 ft. Rocky cliffs, hillsides, canyon

slopes, disturbed areas

Borders of chaparral, oak woodland & even conifer forest

Normally grows on granitic soils

AKA: Azalea-flower Monkeyflower

In the trade: Mimulus bifidus Diplacus aurantiacus grandiflora

© Project SOUND

* Large-flowered Monkeyflower – Diplacus grandiflora

http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=5491

1/6/2013

8

© Project SOUND

Large-flowered Monkeyflower: smaller shrub

Size: 1-3 ft tall

3-4 ft wide

Growth form: Semi-deciduous sub-shrub

Upright (sunnier) to more sprawling habit; more refined looking than others

Lives 10-20+ years

Foliage: Leaves linear to lance-shaped

Medium to dark green; sticky on hot days

Reminiscent of azaleas

Larval food – Buckeye butterflies

Roots: fibrous – good soil-binding

http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=DIGR5

J. E.(Jed) and Bonnie McClellan © California Academy of Sciences © 2000 Joseph Dougherty/ecology.org © Project SOUND

Showiest of the Bush

Monkeyflowers

Blooms: In spring – usually Apr-Jul

in western L.A. county

Flowers: Large size – up to 2” across

Color: varies, but often mid- to light orange with darker throat markings

Look very azalea-like

Numerous blooms – probably the most showy

Seeds: numerous tiny seeds (look like fine grind pepper) in dry papery capsule

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33818785@N00/2393843850/

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2332819910044943617iHxqyG

© Project SOUND

Brother Alfred Brousseau @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

J.S. Peterson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=DIGR5 © Project SOUND

One tough customer.. Soils:

Texture: well-drained (sandy or rocky)

pH: any local (to pH of 5)

Light: Part-shade is best; dappled

shade or high shade from trees is ideal

Needs afternoon shade

Water: Winter: adequate

Summer: best with occasional water – Zone 2 or even 2-3 in sandy soils

Will lose leaves – but survive – Zone 1-2

Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils

http://www.windmillnurseryinc.com/m12/116--mimulus-bifidus-apricot-monkeyflower.html

Brother Alfred Brousseau @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

1/6/2013

9

© Project SOUND

Large-flowered Monkeyflower:

a show-stopper

In shady areas under trees – even near lawns with excellent drainage

Fine under oaks and other summer-dry trees

Good choice for slopes – nice groundcover

Adds beauty and habitat value to the butterfly & hummingbird garden

As an attractive pot plant

Jo-Ann Ordano © California Academy of Sciences

http://www.baynatives.com/plants/Mimulus-bifidus/

Watering the shrubby Monkeyflowers

Many do best with very good drainage – sandy or rocky soils are optimal

Most actually have a wide summer water tolerance in well-drained soils

More water (Zone 2 to 2-3) Evergreen & lush

Possibly longer bloom season & more blooms

Likely shortens life

Less water (Zone 1-2 to 2) Less prone to deer damage

Better for plant health – longer life (15-20 years possible)

Will lose it’s leaves and look like dead sticks (or very sickly)

© Project SOUND

© 2000 Joseph Dougherty/ecology.org

Several natural cultivars are available

© Project SOUND

‘Esselen’

‘White’

© Project SOUND

* Southern Bush Monkeyflower – Diplacus longiflorus

Gary A. Monroe @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

http://www.laspili

tas.com/nature-

of-

california/plants/

diplacus-

longiflorus

1/6/2013

10

© Project SOUND

* Southern Bush Monkeyflower – Diplacus longiflorus

© Br. Alfred Brousseau, Saint Mary's College

http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-

calrecnum=5530

Southern CA: southwestern (ocean-influenced) & interior

San Gabriels; Verdugo Mtns, Chino Hills, foothills of OR Co.

Dry, coast and intermountain slopes to 5000 ft. – often on outcroppings, in intermittant streams or under oaks

In trade: Diplacus auranticaus longiflorus

Mimulus longiflorus

© Project SOUND

Flowers: light orange

or yellow (usually)

Blooms: in spring, usually Mar-July in our area

Flowers: Typical Monkeyflower shape,

but large size

Corollas are noticeably longer than other species (hence its name)

Flower color ranges from light toffee-orange, yellow to almost white; variable even within a single garden

Seeds: many tiny seeds in papery capsule typical of genus

© Br. Alfred Brousseau, Saint Mary's

College

Managing bush Monkeyflowers: follow

Mother Nature’s cues

To keep your plant dense, pinch back new growth in spring/early summer

Cut back watering after flowering

Plants will need yearly reshaping -old growth becomes leggy, brittle.

Once the wood has hardened, prune off at least one-third to one-half of each stem, leaving a few inches of the current year's wood.

© Project SOUND

Forcing flowering with native

Monkeyflowers – the choice is yours

If you treat them like a regular garden plant (deadhead, water & fertilizer) they'll flower for months and months

But they'll live for only a few years if you continually push the flowers.

They basically flower themselves to death.

© Project SOUND

http://www.calown.com/nativegarden_plants.html

1/6/2013

11

© Project SOUND

Diplacus linearis : similar to Sticky Monkeyflower

but with narrower leaves

http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=dilo6

http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/diplacus-

aurantiacus-australis-ramona

© Project SOUND

Diplacus puniceus – one choice for reds

Brother Alfred Brousseau @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database J.S. Peterson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

http://www.westernhort.org/plant_notes200904.html

‘Pumpkin’ form

http://www.laspilitas.com/groups/Monkey_flower/Cali

fornia_monkey_flower.html

Grows in Orange &

San Diego counties,

Catalina

© Project SOUND

Island Bush Monkeyflower – Diplacus parviflorus

Gary A. Monroe @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

An ‘Island endemic’ - N. Channel Islands & San Clemente Island

Canyons & bluffs; often in part-shade

© Project SOUND

Island Bush Monkeyflower – Diplacus parviflorus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Californian_Channel_Islands_map_en.png

1/6/2013

12

© Project SOUND

Island Bush Monkeyflower: typical Diplacus

Size: 2-3 ft tall

2-3 ft wide

Growth form: Semi-deciduous sub-shrub

Perhaps a bit more woody than other species

Foliage: Medium to dark green

Leave lance-shaped; glossy & sticky

Attractive

© 2003 Loretta Metz © Project SOUND

Flowers contrast

beautifully with the foliage

Blooms: In spring – usually Mar-June

or July

Fairly long bloom season

Flowers: Medium size for Bush

Monkeyflowers (~ 1 inch across)

Usually bright crimson red – but may be slightly orange; remind one of Catalina Snapdragon or CA Fuschia

Extremely showy – one of best flower colors

Robert Potts © California Academy of Sciences

Collecting Monkeyflower seeds - easy

Let the capsules dry on the plant

Collect the capsules; place in a paper bag in a cool, dry place for several weeks

Either: Break open capsules by hand

Rub over a mesh screen; separate seeds from chaff by pouring through a finer mesh

Store in a labeled envelope in a cool, dry place

© Project SOUND

http://flowers-macrophotography.blogspot.com/2010/06/pests-on-mimulus-flower-help-gardeners.html

Growing shrubby monkeyflowers from

seed Start in spring (or indoors)

Most locally grown seed need no treatment; mountain & N. CA seed may need cold-moist treatment (stratification)

Mix seed with fine, dry sand (to aid in spreading)

Prepare pots – regular potting mix fine – water well & place in bright place

Sprinkle sand/seed mixture over potting soil

Water seeds in; keep soil moist

© Project SOUND

http://hazmac.biz/090916/090916MimulusFlemingii.html

1/6/2013

13

© Project SOUND

Island Monkeyflower

is undemanding Soils:

Texture: well-drained best, but clays OK

pH: any local

Light: Morning sun or dappled/light

shade for best color & growth

Water: Winter: adequate

Summer: best with occasional water – Zone 2

Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils

© Project SOUND

Use Island Monkeyflower

for a touch of red

As an attractive pot plant

© 2004 Heath McAllister

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastbaywilds/4142947199/

© Project SOUND

* Santa Susanna Bush Monkeyflower – Diplacus rutilus

© Br. Alfred Brousseau, Saint Mary's College © Project SOUND

Diplacus rutilus - Santa Susana Monkey

Flower

http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/diplacus-rutilus

http://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=27584

1/6/2013

14

Most CA native Monkeyflowers have

warm-colored flowers/foliage

© Project SOUND

http://www.uwgb.edu/heuerc/2D/ColorTerms.html

http://www.wildflower

.org/plants/result.php

?id_plant=DIGR5

http://jimschrempp.com/friends/20070428CNPSGarden

Show.htm

Like CA Poppies, they

add a ‘spot of sunlight’

to the garden © Project SOUND

http://www.visionspictures.com/cms_detail_base.php?pic_id=9825

http://www.anniesannuals.com/signs/m/mimulus_aurantiacus_a.htm

http://wildsuburbia.blogspot.com/2009/09/irresistible-monkeyflowers.html

Glorious in so many settings

Why so much variability in the

Monkeyflowers?

© Project SOUND

Two ‘forms’ of

Diplacus puniceus

© Project SOUND

How do species arise/develop? How

does this relate to the Monkeyflowers?

Speciation: The evolutionary formation of new biological species, usually by the division of a single species into two or more genetically distinct ones.

Allopatric Speciation -- speciation occurs in geographic isolation – many mountain (& even foothill) species/populations have been separated for 1000’s of years

Founder Effect Speciation -- a special kind of allopatric speciation in a small isolated population on the edge of a species range – ‘Island Endemics’

1/6/2013

15

Artificial (and natural) garden hybridization

has occurred in annual Mimulus for years

In Britain, CA native Mimulus guttatus & M. moschatus have hybridized naturally with Chilean M. luteus and M. cupreus

Artificial crosses were made with Australian & Indian varieties and with CA native M. bigelowii from S. CA deserts to obtain spotted & pink forms

These have now naturalized in many parts of the British Isles

© Project SOUND

http://theseedsite.co.uk/profile203.html

http://www.easybloom.com/plantlibrary/plant/monkey-flower

© 2004 James M. Andre

Recently, the hybridizing trend has spread

to the shrubby Monkeyflowers

Plant breeders have had a field day with the perennial monkeyflowers.

Major breeders: Richard Persoff, David Verity (UCLA), Phil Van Soelen (Cal Flora Nursery) Donald Sexton at UC Davis Arboretum, and Lee Lenz at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden.

Native plant nurseries such as Yerba Buena Nursery, Tree of Life Nursery, Theodore Payne Foundation, and Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, and others have gotten into the business.

Every year there seem to be more/new/better cultivars every year!!!!.

© Project SOUND http://www.legaljuice.com/2007/06/transgender_minister_reappoint.html

David Verity

20-year breeding program with bush monkeyflowers at the UCLA Botanic Garden [Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden].

Goal: true breeding strains with large flowers

Developed many hybrids, some with colors not seen in nature, such as violet-red and pink.

Program curtailed when the university needed his growing grounds for other purposes. Cuttings/seeds to interested nurseries and botanic gardens before plants were destroyed.

Some still available: the vivid red 'Valentine', the white-throated 'Ruby Silver', the durable orange cultivar fittingly just called 'Hybrid Orange' and the eponymous 'Verity White'.

© Project SOUND

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dballentine/4861732390/

‘Valentine’

http://www.flickr.com/photos/94965373@N00/

‘Ruby Silver’ © Project SOUND

Richard Persoff

Started collecting seeds and cuttings of interesting natural varieties of CA species 40 years ago

Goal: plants that are vigorous and pest-resistant; has also selected for non-sticky cultivars.

Has produced some promising material that is being sold under the name, ‘Persoff’s Hybrids’. The following all belong to this group:

‘Becky’: Apricot-colored blossoms. ‘Grady’: Golden-yellow flowers. ‘Jack’: Burgundy-red flowers. ‘Maddie’: Palest cream-colored

blossoms. ‘Miranda’: Light orange flowers. ‘Sam’: Pale, butter-yellow flowers. ‘Trish’: Dusky rose-pink blossoms.

http://nativeson.com/annotated_catalog/mcatalog.htm

1/6/2013

16

© Project SOUND

Scott Trees – Ornamental Plant Breeder

Ph.D. Plant Genetics - Senior Plant Breeder New Crops at Ball Horticultural Company ; Senior Plant Breeder New Crops at PanAmerican Seed Company

Ball Ornamental Plants ‘Curious Monkeyflower Series’ - wild-collected monkeyflowers crossed with ‘commercial material’

Goal: profuse displays of large, frilly flowers borne on compact plants

First released in 2010

'Peek-a-Boo White', others in this series include 'Georgie Yellow' (AKA 'Georgie Boy Yellow'), Georgie Red (AKA 'Kissable Red) and 'Georgie Tangerine' (AKA 'Tempting Tangerine').

http://www.smgrowers.com/info/images.asp?strLetter=M&page=3

‘Georgie Red’ / ‘Kissable Red’ © Project SOUND

Mimulus hybrids – yellows

'Georgie White'

http://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdispla

y.asp?plant_id=3547

‘Payne’s Yellow’

‘Sam’ ‘Georgie Yellow’

‘Jellybean Gold’

© Project SOUND

Mimulus hybrids - oranges

‘Peach’

http://www.calfloranursery.com/pages_plants/pages_m/mimpeahyb.html

'Georgie Tangerine'

http://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisp

lay.asp?plant_id=3548

‘Pumpkin’

http://www.bewaterwise.com/Gardensoft/plant_descriptio

n.aspx?PlantID=22997

‘Verity Hybrid Orange’

http://wildsuburbia.blogspot.com/2009_09_01_archive.html

‘Dos Equis’

‘Jelly Bean Light Orange’

http://www.packtrials.org/packtrials02.cfm?id=462

© Project SOUND

Mimulus hybrids - reds

‘Jack’ hybrid

http://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plan

tdisplay.asp?plant_id=2702

‘Ruby Silver’ ‘Valentine’

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastbaywilds/collections/72157600017435472/

‘Trish’

http://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/category

_list.asp?cat_id=9&page=19

‘Georgie Red’

‘Jellybean Dark Pink’

http://www.smgrowers.com/info/images.asp?strLetter=M&page=3

1/6/2013

17

© Project SOUND

Many good things about the hybrids…

Glorious color palette: any warm color is possible – pastel to bright

Flowers large & showy – like azaleas or some tropical plant

Some of them have other desirable traits: Compact

Less sticky

May be more ‘garden hardy’ – take a little more water, etc.

All of these features increase interest in CA native plants

http://www.paloaltoonline.com/news_features/home_and_gard

en_design/2004/aug2004/plants.php

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastbaywilds/page180/

‘Trish’ http://www.flickr.com/photos/82479320@N00/2444544430/

My misgivings about the hybrids…

Parentage (particularly as the breeding gets more into the hands of traditional plant breeders rather than CA native plant enthusiasts)

Integrity of local native species & varieties – particularly in a family known for both hybridization and naturalization

Unintended consequences of breeding: Loss of habitat value

Loss of vigor

Loss of drought-tolerance

Many have not been in gardens very long – so we don’t really know how well they’ll do

© Project SOUND

Producing new hybrids at home

Select two parent species with desirable characteristics

Hand pollinate (making sure that your pollen is the only pollen that is allowed to pollinate)

Collect the seeds

Grow up the plants to see what you get – will likely be a real mixture of traits

© Project SOUND

Really no different from

breeding orchids or other

types of plants – just requires

time & patience

© Project SOUND

Scarlet Monkeyflower - Mimulus cardinalis

1/6/2013

18

© Project SOUND

Growing Scarlet Monkeyflower is ease itself!

Quite easy

Light: partial shade is best; tolerates full sun to full shade

Soils: any texture: pH from acid to alkali – very versatile

Water: one of the “water-loving” monkeyflowers

© Project SOUND

Uses in the garden

On slopes, as a ground cover

Bordering paths and roads

In planters (probably also large pots)

In informal garden beds

In hummingbird gardens

Wet spots in the garden (low spots; under birdbath; where it receives sprinkler spray)

Beside ponds and streams

It can grow in a pond setting as well, as long as the crown is above the waterline

http://www.sunset.com/sunset/Premium/Garden/2002/11-

Nov/WildlifeGardens1102/WildlifeGarden11021.html

© Project SOUND

** Mimulus cardinalis

natural cultivars

http://www.calfloranursery.com/pages_plants/pages_m/mimcarsanisl.html

'Santa Cruz Island Gold'

‘Yellow’ – natural cultivar from

WA state

http://students.washington.edu/kjbyers/

Why the interesting coloration?

Surely not to attract us – or is it….?

It turns out the Monkeyflowers can tell us a great deal about the co-evolution of flowers & their pollinators

© Project SOUND

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mimulus_nectar_guide_UV_VIS.jpg

daylight UV light

1/6/2013

19

Kelsey J.R.P. Byers (grad student, U of WA) is using

M. cardinalis hybrids to study plant-pollinator

interactions

Studies are providing answers to: Genetics of flower color and scent

production

The cues pollinators use to find appropriate flowers

© Project SOUND

Mimulus cardinalis

hummingbird

Mimulus lewisii

bumblebee

Artificial hybrids

http://students.washington.edu/kjbyers/

But maybe you were thinking of

something more petite…..

© Project SOUND

© Project SOUND

* Primrose Monkeyflower – Mimulus primuloides

© Br. Alfred Brousseau, Saint Mary's College

Primarily NW CA - Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada

var. (ssp) primuloides - locally in San Bernardino Mountains, San Jacinto Mountains, Mt. Pinos

var (ssp) linearis – very short – N. CA

Moist meadows, seeps & stream sides to 11000'

© Project SOUND

* Primrose Monkeyflower – Mimulus primuloides

© 2001 Steve Schoenig

1/6/2013

20

© Project SOUND

Primrose Monkeyflower is small & dainty

Size: 6-12 in tall; ssp. linearis is < 6 in

to 12 in wide; slowly increases

Growth form: Evergreen herbaceous perennial

Low, even mat-like habit

Foliage: Leaves opposite; variable in

shape,

Variable in color from green to purple-green, shaggy-hairy to hairless

Gerald and Buff Corsi © California Academy of Sciences

© 2001 Steve Schoenig http://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/imagelib/imgdetails.php?imgid=214297 © Project SOUND

Flowers: suspended like

violets above the foliage

Blooms:

Summer-bloomer in wild Usually Spring to early summer

(May-July) in local gardens

Flowers: Mid-size ( ½ - 1 inch across)

Bright yellow; often with red splotches

Relatively ‘open’ but with long throat – ‘hummingbird plant’

Held above the foliage – really nice presentation!

Vegetative reproduction: adds new plants on outside of clump

© 2003 Steve Matson

Charles Webber © California Academy of Sciences

Dividing the clumping perennial

Monkeyflowers is easy

Wait until late winter/early spring – when you start to see new growth

Simply divide, making sure you include adequate roots

Repot – then treat gently (shade; no fertilizer) for ~ 4-6 weeks until rooting is complete

© Project SOUND

http://westerncascades.com/2010/08/28/pikas-and-a-coyote-and-monkeyflowers-oh-my/

© Project SOUND

Primrose Monkeyflower

likes a drink Soils:

Texture: any well-drained

pH: any local but best if slightly acidic (5.0-7.0)

Light: Full sun (with abundant water)

to part-shade

Water: Winter: fine with winter

flooding

Summer: moist ground or right at water’s edge (Zone 3)

Fertilizer: fine (slightly decreased strength) or supply leaf mulch

Other: ‘difficult to grow’ only because of water requirements

© 2007 Neal Kramer

1/6/2013

21

© Project SOUND

Grow Primrose Monkeyflower

in damp places

Perfect for the bog or rain garden

In a well-watered pot

Around water features: streams, waterfalls, fountains

Even tucked into corners of the veggie garden

J. E.(Jed) and Bonnie McClellan © California Academy of Sciences

http://www.laporteavenuenursery.com/html/mimulus_primuloides.html

http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/4dmg/VegFruit/sitetips.htm

http://www.lvye88.com/garden-fountain/

Human uses of Mimulus species

Mimulus species tend to concentrate sodium chloride and other salts absorbed from the soils in which they grow in their leaves and stem tissues.

Native Americans & early travelers in the American West used this plant as a salt substitute to flavor wild game.

The entire plant is edible, but reported to be very salty and bitter unless well cooked.

The juice squeezed from the plant's foliage was used as a soothing poultice for minor burns and skin irritations.[

© Project SOUND

http://blog.diggerslist.com/2010/04/09/weekend-project-how-to-

build-a-garden-fountain/

Gerald and Buff Corsi © California Academy of Sciences

© Project SOUND

Annual (and short-lived perennial) Monkeyflowers often grow in seasonally moist places

http://www-biol.paisley.ac.uk/bioref/Plantae_Mimulus/robertsii1.jpg

http://www.em.ca/garden/native/nat_mimulus_guttatus1.html

© Project SOUND

Seep (Common Yellow) Monkeyflower Mimulus guttatus

http://www.rz.uni-karlsruhe.de/~db50/FOTO_-_Archiv/Mimulus%20guttatus%20BotKA%20S1.jpg

1/6/2013

22

© Project SOUND

Found: Western N. America from Canada to N. Mexico

Former names: many (but not used in horticultural world)

Common habitats:

Moist to wet soils of springs, seeps, marshes, meadows, and stream banks

Generally terrestrial but sometimes found emergent or floating in mats

Seep (Common Yellow) Monkeyflower Mimulus guttatus

Mimulus species are helping push back

the frontiers of science

Several taxa, namely the yellow monkey-flowers (M. guttatus and relatives) and the section Erythranthe (including e.g. M. lewisii, M. cardinalis and M. parishii) are model organisms for research in ecology, genetics and genomics.

Why good model organisms? Relatively small genome

High genetic diversity

Live in variety of environments – even within a species

Short generation time

Easy to make hybrid crosses

Natural hybridization barriers – wide range

The genome sequence of Mimulus guttatus was released in late spring, 2007.

© Project SOUND http://openwetware.org/wiki/Mimulus_Species

Mimulus guttatis sheds light on ecology: Microscale local adaptation on a thermal gradient

In Yellowstone Park, Mimulus guttatus is one of the few

plant species growing in hot soils near thermal pools/vents.

Plants in thermal soils flower months earlier and senesce earlier due to rapid drying of the thermal soils.

Common garden experiments suggest that phenological (early bolting), morphological (short internodes, smaller flowers), and mating system (high self-fertility) differences between thermal and nonthermal Mimulus guttatus have a substantial genetic component.

This adaptive differentiation limits thermal-nonthermal gene flow at one high elevation site, but differentiation is maintained in the face of substantial gene flow at the lower elevations.

© Project SOUND

http://dbs.umt.edu/research_labs/fishmanl

ab/FISHmanlab_Research_Adapt.html

What we learn from the Monkeyflowers may play an important role in

how we face the challenges of global climate change © Project SOUND

Many-flowered Monkeyflower – Mimulus floribundus

1/6/2013

23

© Project SOUND

Consider using annual

Monkeyflowers

Edges of ponds (or in them)

Regularly watered flower beds

Under the bird bath; near fountains

Naturally damp areas of the garden; use with sedges (Carex) and rushes (Juncus)

In the wildflower garden/ prairie

In the vegetable garden – leaves & flowers are edible

http://www.s-

weeds.net/familjer/tubiflorae/scrophulariaceae/pix/mimulus02.jpg © Project SOUND

* Parish’s Monkeyflower – Mimulus parishii

© 2001 Steve Schoenig

© Project SOUND

* Parish’s Monkeyflower – Mimulus parishii

http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?7177,7386,7431

Plant of the desert foothills:

s Sierra Nevada, Southwestern California (and adjacent w Desert – desert side of San Gabriel mtns)

Desert Mountains (Granite, New York, Panamint mtns)

Uncommon in wet, sandy stream sides, primarily in pinyon-juniper woodlands

The Parish Brothers were important

early plant collectors in S. CA

Samuel Bonsall Parish (1838-1928) and William Fletcher Parish (1840-1918) - botanical collectors who lived on a ranch in San Bernardino, California

They made extensive exploring trips through the mountains and deserts of the inland empire.

Samuel was the more devoted of the two and corresponded with and was on very familiar terms with many of the leading botanists of the day

"William served in the Civil War. Later he live in Long Beach. By 1906 he was living at Redondo, and later in Hermosa Beach.“

Many plant names honor these important collectors: Allium parishii, Atriplex parishii, Chaenactis parishii, Chamaesyce parishii, Cheilanthes parishii and many others endemic to Riverside and San Bernardino counties

© Project SOUND

1/6/2013

24

© Project SOUND

Parish’s Monkeyflower – quite a different look

Size: < 1 ½ ft tall

1 ft wide

Growth form: Annual wildflower

Erect habit; stout with substantial side-branching

Foliage: Leaves simple, somewhat

succulent; entire plant is hairy

Color: attractive light green

© Project SOUND

Flowers: so sweet…

Blooms: Summer in local mtns

Probably spring (Apr-June) in local gardens

Flowers: just exquisite

Small (< ½ inch)

Pale shell pink/purple with yellow markings

Lovely, old-fashioned look

Seeds: Many little seeds

Experiment with cold treatment; follow seller’s instructions or ask

© 2009 James M. Andre

© Project SOUND

Annual Monkeyflowers: are annual wildflowers

at heart Soils:

Texture: any; well-drained best

pH: any local

Light: full sun or light shade

Water: Winter: needs moist soils

Summer: let plants dry out after flowering ceases

Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils

Other: gravel/crushed rock mulch

© Project SOUND

*Calico Monkeyflower – Mimulus pictus

Mark W. Skinner @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

1/6/2013

25

Southernmost Sierra Nevada and adjacent Tehachapi Mountains in Tulare and Kern Counties

Bare, sunny areas around shrubs, rock outcrops on granitic soils - elevation 300 – 4200 ft.

Forest and woodland habitat

© Project SOUND

*Calico Monkeyflower – Mimulus pictus

http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Mimulus+pictus

© Project SOUND

Calico Monkeyflower – a tiny delight!

Size: usually 6-12 inches tall

~ ½ - 1 ft wide

Growth form: Annual wildflower

Upright with little branching

Foliage: Medium green; stems and leaves

may be red- or purple tinged

Leaves ovalish to lance-shaped; entire plant hairy

Mark W. Skinner @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

© Project SOUND

Flowers are tiny….

Blooms: in spring (Mar-May)

Flowers: Small (< ½ inch across)

Petals very simple – flower looks flat and not much like a Monkeyflower

Color: white with maroon markings – very unique and showy (looks like calico print, hence the common name)

Capsules: small (~ ¼ inch) , papery with many little seeds

© 2006 Aaron Schusteff

Annual Monkeyflowers:

easy from seed

Will re-seed nicely if happy; deadhead if you don’t want seedlings

© Project SOUND

http://back40feet.blogspot.com/2008_02_01_archive.html

1/6/2013

26

© Project SOUND

Plant Requirements Soils: Texture: likes well-drained

sandy or rocky – any will do

pH: any local – pH down to 5.5

Light: Morning sun to light shade.

Fine under taller trees

Water: Winter: soil needs to be

moist - supplement if needed

Summer: taper off after flowering is completed

Fertilizer: none; likes poor soils

Other: gravel/crushed rock mulch facilitates re-seeding

© 2006 Aaron Schusteff

© Project SOUND

Garden uses for Calico

Monkeyflower

An unusual addition to any hanging basket.

Trailing over moist walls -Mimulus pictus is gorgeous trailing down, its bloom is an ivory white with beautiful, intricate markings.

Lovely amongst Goldenrods, Miner’s lettuce, etc.

Growing between stepping stones

Mark W. Skinner @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

We’ve learned many things about our

fascinating (and unique) CA native

Monkeyflowers

© Project SOUND © Project SOUND

Look around your garden – there’s surely

room for at least 1 Monkeyflower

Visit Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden

& Nurseries soon for inspiration

1/6/2013

27

Now let’s raffel off our Seep

Monkeyflower

© Project SOUND