Flower mimulus (lipstick) - features of the hybrid (tiger) species

The colorful mimulus flower is distinguished by the unusual shape of the buds, which in their appearance are similar to the face of a monkey. The species includes many varieties, each of which is distinguished by a color variety of color of the petals. The flower is also known as a lipstick.

Features of mimulus

Mimulus flowers are perennial shrubs, but they are cultivated mostly as annuals by gardeners. Of the many varieties, there are frost-resistant specimens that can tolerate up to -20 ° C.

What is Mimulus

Belongs to the genus semi-shrub and herbaceous plants of the Frim family.

Plant characteristics

Description of the species:

• height of semi-shrubs 1.5 m, herbaceous plants - up to 70 cm;
• shoots can be erect or creep, are bald or have pubescence;
• oppositely located ovoid leaf plates;
• inflorescences are loose, flowers are monochromatic or spotty irregular in shape;
• tubular corolla with the upper lip bent back, the lower one protrudes forward;
• the fruit is a box with seeds. Splits into 2 halves during ripening.

Mimulus classification

Gardeners cultivate only a few species.

Mimulus tiger, or mimulus Maximus

Mimulus tiger (Mimulus tigrinus, mimulus Tigrinus, large-flowered mimulus, leopard mimulus, hybrid sponge, Mimulus Hybridus) is a beautiful and bright representative of the species. The height of the bush is about 25 cm. Multi-colored spotted petals.

Mimulus hybrid - the most spectacular representative of the species

Orange Mimulus (Mimulus Aurantiacus)

Homeland - the western regions of the United States. Height about 1 m. Leaves are glossy dark green. The petals are pleasant orange. The stem is weaving, therefore it requires support, otherwise it will creep along the ground.

Pomegranate lip (Mimulus Puniceus)

It grows in southern California, on the border of the United States with Mexico. Deep red iridescent petals. Corolla is light orange.

Yellow lipstick (Mimulus Luteus)

Originally from Chile. The height of the bush is up to 60 cm. The leaves are glabrous or pubescent. The color of the flower is yellow.

Mimulus speckled (Mimulus Guttatus)

Area - North America. Flower height up to 80 cm. The stem is straight and branched. The petals are yellow with red dots.

Red lipstick (Mimulus Cardinalis), or purple lipstick

The height of the bush is from 40 to 60 cm. The color of the buds is scarlet.

Mimulus copper-red (Mimulus Cupreus)

Grows in Chile. The height of the bush is from 12 to 15 cm. The stem is glabrous. The color of the buds is a coppery shade of red, which takes on a golden hue as the plant develops.

Mimulus Primuloides

Stem is thin, no more than 15 cm in height. Inflorescences are yellow.

Mimulus musk (Mimulus Moschatus)

Homeland - North America. The height of the bush is 30 cm, the flowers are yellow.

Mimulus ringens, or open mimulus

The height of the bush is from 20 cm to 1 m. The stem is branched. Inflorescences are small lavender.

Varieties that are in great demand among gardeners

Among the wide variety of varieties, only a few are popular with gardeners. They are grown not only in rock gardens, but also at home in pots.

The most popular varieties:

• Breaststroke Monkeez. Flowers of a rich orange hue, lush bloom;
• Twinkle mixed The height of the bush is from 20 to 30 cm. The color can be anything: from white to red. The petals are solid or spotted;
• Magic mixed. Plant height 20 cm, color of buds in pastel colors;
• Magic Spots. The bush grows from 15 to 20 cm. Petals are crimson with red spots;
• Viva. The bush is about 25 cm high. The color of the flowers is dark red;
• The sun is in the shade. Plant height 25 cm, variegated petals, multi-colored;
• Feuierking. Red petals with brown dots, yellow throat;

The species has more than 150 varieties

• Auranticus. Refers to the species red mimulus, however, the petals are painted in a rich orange;
• Red Dragon. Dissolves bright red flowers;
• Cardinal. The shade of the inflorescences is red with yellow dots;
• Rose Queen. Large pink petals with dark specks;
• Red Imperer. Copper inflorescences with a fiery corolla;
• Rother Kaiser. Dissolves red flowers;
• Andean Nymph. The main color is cream, along the edges of the petals there are specks of a purple hue.

Planting by seeds and seedlings

Growing mimulus from seeds is a simple process. The planting material is placed on the ground without tamping, the container is covered with plastic wrap. The soil is moistened with a spray bottle.

Planting a flower with seeds is the preferred method

Time to board

Last days of March, early April. It is better to choose a wide pot in which it is recommended to sow a lot of seeds, or small plastic cups for each future bush.

Soil and seed preparation

A universal primer with the addition of coconut fiber, perlite and a small amount of sand is suitable.

Seedling care

To prevent the appearance of mold on the soil due to the film, it must be ventilated every day for half an hour. It is not difficult to care for young shoots - they need to be kept at a temperature of 15 ° C to 18 ° C. The emergence of shoots should be expected a few days after planting the seeds. Watering at this time is required every day.

Dive

You need to dive the plant after the appearance of several full-fledged leaves. Bushes are transplanted in separate containers by transshipment. The flower is carefully taken out along with a clod of earth. You can plant 3 to 4 seedlings in one pot.

Features of planting in a seedless way in open ground

For Mimulus, planting and care in the open field, seeds are as easy as planting seedlings. You can start planting from the second week of May, when there will definitely be no frost.

Before planting, you need to make shallow pits at a distance of about 15-20 cm from each other. Before planting, the plant should be well moistened, like the soil in the hole.

Features of care in the garden

Maintaining the good condition and beauty of the flower is easy - you need to water and loosen the ground, and also regularly remove weeds near the flower.

Monkey flower - decoration of any garden

If there is a desire to plant a mimulus in the garden, growing a flower in the open field will not cause trouble. Suitable places where you can plant a plant - partial shade or well-lit areas, but without direct sunlight. The plant loves regular watering, needs constantly moist soil.

The land is slightly acidic, humus or loamy. You need to add peat to it.

Watering

Watering is necessary daily or every other day, depending on the temperature. If small holes appear on the leaves, then the watering is too abundant.

Top dressing

It is allowed to feed no more than 1 time with an interval of 25-30 days. Dosage - 15 g of complex fertilizer.

When and how it blooms

The splendor of flowering depends on proper flower care.

• Types of flowers. Depending on the variety, they can be monochromatic or spotted, combining several shades.
• Flower shapes. It is wrong for all petals.
• Flowering period - 2 times per season: in spring and autumn.

Mimulus has a lush bloom

Changes in care during and after flowering

Mimulus, planting and caring for which is quite simple, needs more frequent watering during lush flowering. Top dressing will help prolong flowering.

When the mimulus fades, it has a period of calm, then you can slightly reduce the frequency of watering and not use fertilizers.

Immediately after the first flowering, the plant must be completely cut off. During the summer, before the next flowering, new shoots will appear again.

Seed collection

When the fruit is ripe, it will burst into 2 pieces, from which the seeds can be extracted. Grains should be harvested only from those flowers that are distinguished by abundant flowering and juicy dense foliage.

Preparing for winter

Before the onset of cold weather, the flower must be dug out of the garden and transplanted into a pot. A few days after the transplant, when the mimulus comes to its senses, it must be cut shortly. It is necessary to keep it all winter in a warm room.

Possible growing problems

Growing a beautiful flower is not difficult if you follow it correctly. But every gardener should be prepared for the fact that diseases and pests can infect Mimulus.

• Common pests are slugs, aphids and whiteflies. Insecticides work well against them.
• The flower can be affected by gray rot, black leg and powdery mildew. Fungicides help with ailments.
• Slow growth, lack of flowering or a small number of inflorescences, yellowing of the leaves or the appearance of holes on the leaf plate are signs of improper plant care.

Mimulus is a rather simple and unpretentious flower, but so bright and unusual. They fall in love with him at first sight. The monkey flower is an ideal decoration for the garden, flower beds and rock garden.