Blue Monkey Flower (Mimulus ringens) is a charming native perennial perfect for wetland gardens, rain gardens, or pond edges. Known for its showy, tubular blue-violet blooms and upright, branching stems, this hardy aquatic plant brings a pop of color to moist areas while supporting pollinators like bees and butterflies.
Why You'll Love It:
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Beautiful lavender-blue flowers bloom from summer to early fall
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Ideal for rain gardens, pond edges, or consistently moist soil
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Attracts pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
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Native to North America and well-suited to local ecosystems
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Low-maintenance and cold-hardy
Plant Care Tips:
☀️ Light: Prefers full sun to part shade; flowering is best with at least 6 hours of sunlight
💧 Water: Thrives in moist to wet soil; do not allow soil to dry out completely
🌱 Soil: Grows best in rich, consistently moist to wet soil; tolerates seasonal flooding
🌡 Temperature: Hardy in zones 3–9; tolerates cold winters
🌿 Spacing: Space 12–18 inches apart to allow room for spreading
✂️ Pruning: Deadhead to encourage continued blooming; cut back in late fall after frost
🍽 Feeding: Not typically required if planted in rich soil; compost can be added in spring if needed
🌸 Propagation: Can be propagated by division in spring or from seed
⚠️ Toxicity: Non-toxic to humans and pets
