Mimulus (Monkeyflowers)

Mimulus brightens damp gardens while supporting diverse wildlife. Its tubular, nectar-rich blooms, often speckled with markings, are perfectly adapted for pollination by bumblebees, which can access the deep flowers. The plant’s lush foliage shelters frogs and toads in shady, wet areas, while its stems host small insects like spiders and beetles. Some species thrive at pond margins, where their roots help stabilise soil and provide egg-laying sites for damselflies. With a long flowering season from spring to autumn, Mimulus offers reliable colour and ecological value, particularly in rain gardens, stream banks, or containers kept consistently moist.