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| Category: Shrub |
| Family: Phrymaceae (previously Scrophulariaceae) |
| Origin: California (U.S.A.) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Maroon |
| Bloomtime: Year-round |
| Synonyms: [Diplacus] |
| Height: 2-3 feet |
| Width: 2-3 feet |
| Exposure: Sun or Shade |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
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Mimulus 'Midnight' (Monkeyflower) - This is a small sub-shrub to 2 feet tall with narrow dull green leaves and dark maroon flowers. Plant in well-drained soil in full sun to light shade. Water infrequently or not at all once established. This plant was collected on Sunset Ridge in the San Gabriel Mountains by Tom Nuccio of Nuccio's Nursery in Altadena. Sunset Ridge, a ridge across the canyon from Nuccio's Nursery, was the site of a pre-1900s dwelling. Tom Nuccio speculated that the person who had lived there had planted Mimulus which may have crossed with Mimulus aurantiacus native to the site. There were several different color forms collected from the site. It is hardy to about 20 degrees F. . In the newest treatment of the tribe Mimuleae, which includes Diplacus, Mimulus, and Mimetanthe, these plants have been removed from the Figwort family, Scrophulariaceae, and placed with the genus Phryma (previously included in Verbenaceae) into the new family Phrymaceae. The woody species of Mimulus that are the parents of most of the hybrids have been separated into the genus Diplacus in the past, then gone back to Mimulus, but in the current treatment in the UC Berkeley Jepson eFlora all of the woody Mimulus are back in the genus Diplacus. This change has not been accepted by all and not to cause undo confusion for our customers and staff, we continue to use the name Mimulus until such time as this name change is more widely known. The original generic name is from the Latin word 'mimus' meaning "mimic actor" that is derived from the Greek word 'mimos' that means means "imitator" and references the flowers that look like painted faces. The name Diplacus comes from the Greek words 'di' meaning "two" or "double" and 'plax' or 'plakos' meaning "a flat round plate", "tablet" or "broad surface" in reference to the manner in with the fruit capsule splits.
Information displayed on this page about Mimulus 'Midnight' is based on the research conducted about it in our library and from reliable online resources. We also note those observations we have made of this plant as it grows in the nursery's garden and in other gardens, as well how crops have performed in our nursery field. We will incorporate comments we receive from others, and welcome to hear from anyone who may have additional information, particularly if they share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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