Stats

Lifespan: Perennial
Size: Medium
Diet: Photosynthetic
Biome: Mediterranean shrubland
Range: North America
Movement: Sessile
Breeding: Seeds
Defense: Toxins
Status: Uncommon

About

Southern bush monkeyflower is a drought-tolerant shrub native to the chaparral and coastal sage scrub of southern California and Baja California, bearing large trumpet-shaped blooms in shades of cream to salmon-orange from spring into summer. Its sticky, aromatic leaves reduce water loss, and the flowers are a favourite nectar source for hummingbirds.

Life cycle

1.
seed
A dormant seed waits for water and warmth before germinating.
2.
sprout
A first shoot emerges with cotyledon leaves and a tap root reaching down.
3.
sapling
A young plant grows true leaves and a stem or trunk, putting on height each season.
4.
mature
Fully grown, flowering or fruiting at adult size.

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Taxonomy

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Lamiales
Family: Phrymaceae
Genus: Diplacus
Species: Diplacus longiflorus