Mimulus aurantiacus is a member of the Scrophularieaceae or Figwort Family. It has a common name of Bush monkey flower or sticky monkey flower because of the sticky surface of the upper side of the leaves. Bush monkey flower is a leafy, perennial shrub that grows to 4’ tall and is commonly found on dry, rocky slopes below 5,000'. It can be found it a variety of plant communities including coastal sage scrub, chaparral and oak woodland. In excessively hot, dry periods the terminal portions of the stem die back as an adaptation to summer drought.

The corolla (petals) is whitish to orange-red, commonly yellow-orange in our area. There is an upper lip of two large lobes and a lower lip of three smaller lobes. The stigma lips will close if you poke them with a stick, but will later open again. Once pollen is deposited however, the lips remain closed.

On SBCC campus you can be find Mimulus aurantiacus in the gardens on either side of the loading dock