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Common Name: Yellow Monkey Flower

General Information

Mimulus guttatus is a perennial plant that can grow up to 0.60 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Western N. America - Alaska to Mexico. Naturalized in Britain.

Habitat

Streams and wet places below 3000 metres[]. Banks of streams in Britain, where it appears quite native[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.60 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers rather moist places such as damp borders, margins of streams and boggy spots[, ]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Thrives in full sun so long as the soil does not dry out[], otherwise it is best grown in partial shade[]. Grows well in shallow water, but it can be invasive[].
Hardy to at least -20°c[].
There is some confusion over the naming of this plant, the entry on edibility may refer to M. luteus, which is closely related to this species.

Edible Uses

Leaves - raw or cooked[, , , ]. A slightly bitter flavour, they are added to salads[, ]. The leaves are used as a lettuce substitute[].

Medicinal

The plant is astringent, poultice and vulnerary[, , ]. A decoction of the leaves and stems has been used as a herbal steam bath for chest and back soreness[]. A poultice of the crushed leaves has been applied to wounds, rope burns etc[].
The plant is used in Bach flower remedies - the keywords for prescribing it are 'Fear or anxiety of a known origin'[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse and only lightly cover the seed[]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.
If you have sufficient seed it can also be sown in situ in late spring after the last expected frosts[].
Division in spring[]. Very easy, large divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.
Cuttings of softwood, 5cm long in spring or summer[].