Mimulus lewisii - Great Purple Monkey Flower

Family:	Scrophulariaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.6
Width:	0.45
Synonyms:
Range:	Western N. America - Alaska to Mexico.

Mimulus lewisii (Great Purple Monkey Flower) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.6m and a width of 0.45m . It has a hardness rating of 5.
Great Purple Monkey Flower will flower in January to February. The flowers from this plant are and they are pollinated by Insects

Soil Information

Great Purple 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
Great Purple Monkey Flower prefers soils

Ideal Planting Locations

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

Moist areas, stream edges and wet slopes[172]. In and along streams from moderate to high elevations[60].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Grows on a sunny edge
• Works within dappled Shade
• 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]. 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]. This species tolerates slightly drier conditions than M. guttatus, it prefers a rich soil in light woodland[200]. Hardy to at least -20°c[187]. Another report says that plants are only hardy in the milder parts of Britain[233]. 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 and stems - raw or cooked[172].

• Leaves -

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 1/5
Poultice[172].

• Poultice - A moist, usually warm or hot, mass of plant material applied to the skin in the treatment of burns etc.

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

Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest.
Hitchcock. C. L.
Author: Hitchcock. C. L.
Rating:
Publisher : A standard flora for Western N. America with lots of information on habitat etc. Five large volumes, it is not for the casual reader.
Date of Publication : 1955

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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