Guide to growing garden plants - Mimulus Monkey Musk
Although members of Mimulus are half hardy or hardy perennials they are usually grown as half hardy annuals in the garden.
They range in height from 5cm to 90cm and carry tubular freckled flowers of orange, red, yellow and pink.
Their size makes them ideal for growing in the rock garden or for use in a garden border.
Some common names for members of Mimulus include Monkey Musk, Monkey flower and Musk.
How to grow Monkey Musk
When growing monkey musk and other Mimulus outdoors from seed they should be sown on the surface towards the end of winter. Musk likes to grow in sunny areas of the garden, though in very hot area they prefer partially shaded areas in the afternoon. The soil that Monkey Musk grows in should be moist and rich with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6 to 7).
If starting Musk species indoors then the process should be done about two to three months in advance. The seeds should be imbibed by placing the seeds (within soil) in a plastic bag, then placing in the fridge for three weeks. Seeds should then be sown out into the light at a temperature of 21 to 25 Celsius; they normally take from one to three weeks to germinate. Musk seedlings should be transplanted following the last frost of spring at a spacing of 15cm (small Mimulus species) to 30cm to 90cm (larger varieties).
Caring for Mimulus
Once growing Monkey Musk and other Mimulus are easy to look after, they require to be watered regular to ensure that the soil is moist at all times. The flowers should be dead headed before they have chance to set seed. In the winter it is best to apply mulch to protect the plants if growing as a hardy perennial. If you require more plants then Musk can be propagated by dividing in the springtime.