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Monkey Flowers can be divided into two groups - based upon where they are found. The Creek and Scarlet Monkey Flowers in Riparian environments while Bush and Yellow Monkey Flowers along rocky slopes.

Those conspicuous bushes with the light-orange flowers you are seeing on hikes right now are a species of Monkey Flower known as Sticky Monkey flower or Bush Monkey Flower. In addition to the Sticky variety, several other species of this plant also grace our mountains. Flowers are commonly about an inch long and of interesting shape. Several species are bright yellow, while others are salmon-colored or bright red.

The term "monkey" owes to the markings of the seed (which resemble an ape), or possibly to the shape of the flower (mime meaning actor). Varieties of Monkey Flower can also do well in pots or in your garden. Other plants in this large family include Indian Paintbrush, Snapdragons and Foxglove.

The following chart gives some distinguishing characteristics of a few of the more common varieties of Mimulus native to our mountains. For a more comprehensive guide, you may wish to refer to a book such as Wildflowers of the Santa Monica Mountains by Milt McAuley.

Contributed by Liz Baumann