Mimulus guttatus - Yellow Monkey Flower

Family:	Scrophulariaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.6
Width:	0.6
Synonyms:
Range:	Western N. America - Alaska to Mexico. Naturalized in Britain.

Mimulus guttatus (Yellow Monkey Flower) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.6m and a width of 0.6m . It has a hardness rating of 6.
Yellow Monkey Flower will flower in January to March. The flowers from this plant are and they are pollinated by

Soil Information

Yellow Monkey Flower will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Yellow Monkey Flower prefers soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Yellow Monkey Flower can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Streams and wet places below 3000m[187]. Banks of streams in Britain, where it appears quite native[17].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Is a pond plant
• A bog garden plant

Cultivation Details

Prefers rather moist places such as damp borders, margins of streams and boggy spots[1, 111]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Thrives in full sun so long as the soil does not dry out[200], otherwise it is best grown in partial shade[187]. Grows well in shallow water, but it can be invasive[200]. Hardy to at least -20°c[187]. There is some confusion over the naming of this plant, the entry on edibility may refer to M. luteus, which is closely related to this species.

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 2/5
Leaves - raw or cooked[94, 105, 155, 172]. A slightly bitter flavour, they are added to salads[161, 183]. The leaves are used as a lettuce substitute[257].

• Leaves -

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 2/5
The plant is astringent, poultice and vulnerary[94, 172, 257]. A decoction of the leaves and stems has been used as a herbal steam bath for chest and back soreness[257]. A poultice of the crushed leaves has been applied to wounds, rope burns etc[257]. The plant is used in Bach flower remedies - the keywords for prescribing it are 'Fear or anxiety of a known origin'[209].

• Astringent - Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
• Bach - Plants used in the Bach flower remedies.
• Poultice - A moist, usually warm or hot, mass of plant material applied to the skin in the treatment of burns etc.
• Vulnerary - Promotes the healing of wounds.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse and only lightly cover the seed[200]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. If you have sufficient seed it can also be sown in situ in late spring after the last expected frosts[200]. Division in spring[200]. Very easy, large divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer. Cuttings of softwood, 5cm long in spring or summer[200].

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

None known

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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