What could be more charming and enticing than monkeys in the garden? Monkey flower is a bushy herbaceous perennial with lots of lilac-blue (occasionally pink or white) flowers that resemble the faces of monkey. Each flower is two lipped, an inch across and has a yellow patch in its throat. The plants start blooming in summer, continue for 6 weeks into fall, and attract butterflies, bees and other pollinators, but never cause the mischief of their namesake. Native to wet soils in North America, the plants are a good choice for water, rain or bog gardens.
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Height: 12-36″
Bloom Color: Lilac-blue, (occasionally pink or white)
Bloom Time: Summer into fall
Light: Part shade to full sun (with adequate water)
Soil: Average, wet to moist
Hardiness: Zones 3-8
Karen Meyers