Sticky monkeyflower

Sun

Full sun; light afternoon shade is helpful in very hot inland gardens.

Water

Low once established. Water young plants regularly while roots develop, then water deeply but infrequently; avoid keeping the soil wet during summer dormancy.

Soil

Well-drained sandy, gravelly or rocky soil. Tolerates lean ground but struggles in heavy, persistently wet soil.

Height

2-5 ft (0.6-1.5 m)

Spread

2-4 ft (0.6-1.2 m)

Flowers

Mainly spring to early summer, sometimes repeating in autumn after rain; usually apricot-orange to orange, with yellow forms also occurring.

Foliage

Evergreen. Narrow, dark green, resinous leaves with a sticky surface and often rolled edges. Leaves may thin or drop during prolonged summer drought or cold weather.

Growth

Moderate

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   2 ft (0.61 m)

3. After 2 years

   2.4 ft (0.72 m)

4. After 3 years

   2.7 ft (0.83 m)

5. After 5 years

   3 ft (1.1 m)

   full size

About 5 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Native to

the US

Growth rate

Moderate

• Plant in spring after hard frosts, or in autumn where winters are mild and soil drains freely.
• Water during establishment, allowing the upper soil to dry between waterings.
• Reduce watering once established; do not try to reverse summer dormancy with frequent irrigation.
• Usually omit fertiliser; rich feeding encourages soft, sprawling growth.
• Use a thin gravel mulch and keep it clear of the woody crown.
• In cold regions, overwinter container plants in a bright, cool, frost-free place.

Pruning. After the main flowering flush, shorten flowering shoots lightly to keep the shrub compact. Remove dead stems in spring, but avoid cutting hard into old, leafless wood.

Spring

Check for winter damage and remove dead stems once new growth shows which branches are alive.

Spring

Plant after hard frosts and water thoroughly to settle the roots.

Late spring

Watch tender shoots for aphids and rinse off small colonies with water.

After flowering

Lightly shorten spent flowering shoots to maintain a compact shape.

Summer

Allow established plants to rest in hot, dry weather; avoid frequent watering.

Autumn

Move container plants under bright, frost-free cover before hard frosts in cold regions.

Winter

Keep sheltered pots barely moist and ensure outdoor plants are not sitting in saturated soil.

• Plant on sunny banks among rocks, where its loose growth softens edges without needing regular irrigation.
• Combine with California sagebrush, buckwheat and California fuchsia in a dry native planting.
• Use beside paths or patios where the flowers can be viewed closely, allowing room for its spreading branches.
• Grow in a freely draining container on a sunny terrace where winter shelter is available.

Garden styles it suits: California native, Mediterranean, Desert / xeriscape, Dry gravel garden, Wildlife garden and Coastal.

Plant it with: California sagebrush, California buckwheat, California fuchsia, Purple needlegrass, Deer grass and White sage.

Wildlife: Flowers provide nectar for hummingbirds in its native range and are also visited by bees and other insects. It can serve as a larval host for some checkerspot butterflies.

• Root or crown rot in wet soil: improve drainage, keep mulch away from the crown and reduce irrigation, especially during summer rest.
• Frost damage: choose a sheltered position and move container plants into frost-free cover before hard freezes.
• Aphids on young shoots: rinse off with water; use insecticidal soap if colonies persist, avoiding open flowers and hot sunshine.
• Sparse summer foliage: this can be a normal drought response rather than disease; check soil moisture before adding water.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. Species-specific safety information is limited, and no particular poisonous part is established; it is an ornamental, not a food plant.

• Red bush monkeyflower (Diplacus puniceus)

  Usually has red to scarlet flowers rather than the typical orange flowers of sticky monkeyflower. Garden hybrids blur this distinction, so flower colour alone is not always conclusive.

• Seep monkeyflower (Erythranthe guttata)

  A soft-stemmed plant of wet ground, with broad leaves and yellow, often spotted flowers; sticky monkeyflower has woody stems and narrow, resinous leaves.

The common name refers to the sticky leaves and fancifully face-like flowers, while aurantiacus means orange-coloured.

Propagation. Take non-flowering softwood or semi-ripe cuttings in spring or early summer and root them in a freely draining medium. Seed can also be surface-sown in spring; seedlings may vary, especially when collected from garden hybrids.

Accepted botanical name

Diplacus aurantiacus

In the US and Canada

Native in the lower 48 states.

Native range

California and Oregon.

Measured

Average height 136 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.