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Mimulus ringens (Allegehney Monkey Flower)

Mimulus ringens (Allegehney Monkey Flower)

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More information on the 2027 crop to come

A confirmed obligate wetland species with genuinely specific ecological value, Allegheny monkey flower serves as a named larval host for both the Common Buckeye and Baltimore Checkerspot butterflies - an under-utilized rain garden staple that plays well with other wetland favorites without becoming a thug.

Species Overview

Mimulus ringens is a native herbaceous perennial found in wetlands, marshes, and along water edges in North America. Growing 2 to 3 feet tall on square, often branching stems, it produces small, lavender-blue, snapdragon-like flowers resembling a monkey's face from midsummer to early fall. It has a rhizomatous root system that stabilizes soil without spreading aggressively.

Application

  • Wetland restoration - confirmed obligate wetland species
  • Rain gardens, riparian buffers, and pond/stream margins
  • Larval host habitat for the Common Buckeye and Baltimore Checkerspot
  • Deer-pressured wet-soil sites

Growing Conditions / Specification Data

  • Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
  • Soil/Moisture Tolerance: Moist to wet soils; tolerates saturated conditions and seasonal flooding
  • Plant Type: Forb
  • Mature Height: 2-4 ft.
  • Fall Color: Insignificant/None
  • Bloom Color / Period: Purple; July-September
  • Wetland Indicator Status: OBL (Obligate Wetland)
  • Native Range: Saskatchewan to Nova Scotia, south to Georgia, west to Alabama, Louisiana, and northeastern Texas
  • Hydrology: Wet
  • Root Depth: Shallow (Under 12 in.)
  • Salinity Tolerance: Low
  • Growth Rate: Rapid
  • Drought Tolerance: Low
  • Flood Tolerance: High - A wetland forb found in marshes, wet meadows, and streambanks; tolerates standing water.
  • Shade Tolerance: Intermediate
  • Growth Habit: Spreading - rhizomatous
  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-8
  • Deer Resistance: Yes (Rarely Damaged)
  • Pollinator Value: Larval host, supports bees, supports butterflies

Planting Guidance

  • Rhizomatous root system stabilizes soil without spreading aggressively - pairs well with swamp milkweed, Joe-Pye weed, and lobelias in rain garden plantings.
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