Mimulus - planting and care in open ground, varieties with photos and descriptions

Author: Elena N. https://floristics.info/ru/index.php?option=com_contact&view=contact&id=19 Category: Garden plants Published: February 21, 2019Last edits: January 20, 2021

plant (lat. Mimulus), or gubastik, belongs to the genus of semi-shrub and herbaceous plants of the Frimov family, growing in temperate regions everywhere except Europe. Previously, this genus was included in the Norichnikov family. The Latin name mimulus flower received from the word mimus (translated as “imitator, mime”) because of its variegated, changeable colors, as well as because of the shape of the flower, similar to the face of a monkey. There are about 150 species in the genus Gubastiki, most of which can be found in western North America in damp places, as well as in mountains and deserts at altitudes of up to 2500 m above sea level. In our gardens, the sponge is still rare.

Description with photo of flowers

In its outline, the bud of the gubastik most closely resembles the face of a monkey. The genus is represented by semi-shrub or herbaceous plants belonging to the Frimov family, and includes about 150 species.

Most of the representatives of the genus are found naturally in North America. However, mimulus is widely used to decorate flower beds in New Zealand, North Africa and Asia.

Gubastik is also popular among domestic lovers of exotic flowers.

Mimulus – photo

The variety of colors of mimulus is simply impressive. Look how many spectacular and interesting varieties are at your disposal!

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Peculiarities

The height of the plant, depending on the species characteristics, is from 0.7 to 1.5 m. Mimulus shoots can be either erect or creeping. The color of the shoots is also variable; they can be light green or reddish-brown; some plants have obvious pubescence on the stems.

The leaf blades are oppositely located, oval, with a serrated edge and a sharp tip.

Although the sponge is thermophilic, among its varieties there are flowers that can easily withstand temperatures down to -20 °C. Nevertheless, in Russian gardens it is grown as an annual plant.

Mimulus flowers are large, their diameter is about 6 cm. They consist of 5 petals: three of them are extended forward, and two are bent back. The color of the corollas is very diverse.

Mimulus blooms twice per season : in spring and autumn, while in summer the flower can enter a short period of dormancy.

Botanical description

Although the gubastik flower is a perennial, it is grown in culture as an annual plant, although some species can withstand frosts down to -20 ºC. Herbaceous species of mimulus reach a height of 70 cm, and subshrubs grow up to one and a half meters. The stems of the plant are branched, erect or creeping, bare or pubescent. The leaves are opposite, most often ovate. Irregularly shaped, monochromatic or spotted flowers up to 5 cm in diameter are collected in loose clusters. The corolla of the flowers is tubular, with a bilobed upper lip bent back, and a lower trilobed lip pushed forward. The fruit of the plant is a capsule with small brown seeds, which cracks in two when ripe.

Mimulus looks great in flower beds, rock gardens, hanging structures and containers. It is also used as a ground cover plant.

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Kinds

Of the entire variety of plants included in the genus, only a few species of mimulus are grown as ornamental plants.

Tiger or hybrid (Mimulus tigrinus)

Thanks to the fact that breeders crossed two types of lipweed (yellow and speckled), a huge number of hybrid forms appeared , united by a common name - hybrid mimulus.

As a rule, plants belonging to this group are small in size (about 0.25 m) and have very brightly colored petals.

Orange (Mimulus aurantiacus)

In its natural environment, the plant can be found in the southwestern United States. The height of the shoots usually does not exceed 1 meter, but the orange mimulus tends to bend toward the ground, which is why it is usually tied up.

The elongated leaf blades are painted in a glossy rich green color, and the color of the petals has distinct salmon or orange notes. The diameter of the open corollas can reach 4 cm.

Pomegranate (Mimulus puniceus)

The pomegranate sponge is found in California and Mexico. The plant is distinguished by the beautiful shimmering color of its petals . This effect is achieved by combining many shades of red and orange in one corolla.

Yellow (Mimulus luteus)

Coming from Chile, where the flower is a perennial, in Russia yellow mimulus is grown as an annual plant. The height of the shoots reaches 0.6 m; they can be either drooping or bare.

The leaf blades are also of different shapes: on some representatives of the species they are ovoid, while others will be heart-shaped, but the edge of the leaf is necessarily serrated.

The flowers are relatively small , axillary, uniformly yellow.

Speckled (Mimulus guttatus)

Initially, the species was endemic to the northwestern regions of the United States, but then began to actively spread to the east of the country. Today the plant is widely grown throughout New Zealand and Europe.

This variety has a high adaptive capacity and easily adapts to changing living conditions.

The height of mimulus shoots reaches 0.8 m, they are oriented vertically and branch well. The flowers attract attention with the presence of reddish-orange specks in the throat, which creates an attractive pattern against the background of yellow petals.

Red (Mimulus cardinalis) or purple

The bushes of the plant, despite their small height (up to half a meter), actively branch, and branching begins immediately from the root.

The shoots are pubescent and densely covered with opposite leaf blades. Convex veins and serrated edges are clearly visible on the leaves of mimulus.

The axillary flowers have a pleasant aroma and bright scarlet-red petals.

Copper red (Mimulus cupreus)

This low plant (up to 0.15 m) is found in Chile. The lodging bare stems of copper-red mimulus are only slightly raised above ground level.

Leaf blades with a serrated edge and clearly visible veins are located opposite. The flowers are axillary, about 3 cm in diameter, bright, copper-orange or copper-red.

Over time, the color intensity softens somewhat, and the petals acquire a yellow-golden hue.

Primrose (Mimulus primuloides)

The variety is low (up to 0.15 m), has several thin vertical stems and a beautiful basal rosette of leaves. The flowers are painted a bright, uniform yellow color.

Musk (Mimulus moschatus)

This plant is distinguished by abundantly pubescent shoots, whose height is very small (up to 0.3 m) and leaves, on the surface of which a mucus with a characteristic musky aroma is formed. The yellow flowers of mimulus reach a diameter of 2.5 cm.

Gaping or open mimulus (Mimulus ringens)

The height of the plant is variable and depends on the growing conditions . The spread is impressive: vertically oriented, well-branched shoots can reach a height of 0.2 to 1 meter.

The leaf blades are oppositely arranged and colored a rich green color. The flowers are small and have a remarkable soft lavender color.

Trimming

In principle, pruning is not a mandatory part of the “monkey flower” agricultural technology. But, if you leave the shoots to grow uncontrollably, the flowering will gradually move to their top, the buds will become smaller and the overall appearance of the flowerbed will lose its decorative effect, becoming untidy and careless. Pruning shoots at this stage almost to the root is a well-known technique for stimulating the re-blooming of annuals. A new wave of flowering may come very soon, so there is no need to feel sorry for the plant, especially since the tops can be additionally rooted using the cutting principle if desired.

To make the plant bush better, it is recommended to periodically pinch the tops of the shoots.

Popular varieties

Among the popular mimulus hybrids are the following:

• Monkees breaststroke;
• twinkle mixed;
• magic mixed;
• magic spots;
• viva;
• sun in the shade;
• foyerking;
• auranticus;
• red dragon;
• cardinal;
• Rose Queen;
• red imperer;
• Roter Kaiser;
• andean nymph.

Choosing a landing site

The sponge is light-loving, but not so much that it needs to grow in an open place; it is better to provide it with light temporary shading during the day. But with the humidity of the growing area, everything is not so clear. The speckled sponge can tolerate temporary waterlogging, but if it is left to overwinter, it prefers a dry overwintering. Only the open-faced lipstick can live “in knee-deep water” all the time. In this case, it is better to plant it not in the ground, but in a container, which is immersed in water.

Growing from seeds, when to plant in the ground

Of course, in most regions of the country, already grown sponge seedlings are planted in the ground, but for the southern regions, sowing seeds in the ground is allowed.

Landing dates

The seeds are scattered in the flowerbed at the end of April. But for the northern regions, transferring seedlings to the ground is possible only at the end of May; there is no talk of planting seeds.

Landing technology

Before planting, the area is dug up and loosened. It is necessary to remove the roots of weeds and large stones. The seeds are evenly distributed over the prepared area and covered with film.

Sowing seeds

Mimulus are multiple hybrids adapted for growing in the garden, however, they produce seeds with which they can be propagated. In a good location, plants often self-sow; the seeds can lie in the ground until next year. However, if specific varieties are needed, you should not plant plants from collected seeds, since the offspring may be very different in appearance from the mother plant. It is much better to sow seeds purchased from a trusted manufacturer.

When to sow mimulus seeds for seedlings? For seedlings, seeds are sown in February or early March in boxes for growing at home.

Sowing seeds, growing seedlings:

1. For sowing, you need to prepare boxes with universal, moist soil.
2. The seeds are very small, so before sowing it is worth mixing them with sand and scattering them on the surface of the ground.
3. After germination, the seedlings are kept on a well-lit windowsill and watered. You can additionally highlight the seedlings, since in short days and away from the sun they stretch out. If overwatered or in soil contaminated with fungi, seedlings can become victims of fungal diseases.

4. When the seedlings produce a couple of true leaves, they are planted in small pots.

Features of garden care

Mimulus is not too demanding on living conditions, but it is better to follow certain recommendations for its cultivation.

What conditions do mimulus like?

Give preference to areas that are in light shade. The light falling on a flower bed with mimulus should be bright, but diffused. The soil on the site is preferably loose, well-drained and nutritious, with a neutral pH.

The soil

Before planting mimulus, it is a good idea to enrich the soil with a small amount of humus , peat and humus. A drainage layer must be laid at the bottom of the planting hole.

Watering

Watering is done regularly. The top layer of soil should always be slightly moist.

Feeding

Fertilizers are applied once a month with watering. Mimulus favors complex potassium-phosphorus fertilizers.

Mulching

Mulching will help reduce the frequency of watering and regulate weed activity.

Loosening

After each watering, as soon as the moisture is completely absorbed into the soil, the top layer of soil must be loosened. This measure will help prevent the formation of a hard airtight layer.

Trimming

Since the sponge blooms twice per season , it is very important to remove faded buds in a timely manner. This stimulates branching and accelerates the appearance of new corollas on the plant.

When and how does it bloom

Mimulus can bloom at the end of spring and at the very beginning of autumn. The first flowering takes several weeks, then there is a short period of dormancy, new branching begins, and then the bush blooms again.

Growing and care

In the wild, almost all mimulus live in moist, even damp places, but some can only grow in well-drained and even slightly dry soil. So when planting and caring for mimulus, you need to take into account the requirements of each species. Tiger mimulus hybrids are usually grown in gardens; their cultivation will be discussed below.

After planting, young mimulus should be pinched so that they branch out, this will promote flowering.

If planted in full sun, mimulus sometimes stops blooming in hot weather, especially if it doesn't get enough water. It will begin to bloom again when the heat passes.

Watering, fertilizing

Garden mimulus hybrids do not tolerate drought well; they need to be watered regularly. It is better to use non-cold water for watering and water early in the morning, before the sun's rays hit the plants.

Regularly during the growing season (every month) feed mimulus in pots with diluted fertilizers for flowering plants. When planting in open ground well fertilized with organic matter, fertilizers may not be needed. Fertilizing with compost once a year has a positive effect on the good development of the sponge, this is enough.

Trimming

When mass flowering ends, the mimulus is cut about 5 cm below the flowers. As a result, dormant buds will begin to develop, and the plant will be able to bloom again.

Diseases, pests

Mimulus are not only demanding, but also delicate, so they can become victims of diseases (mainly fungal diseases) and pests. Young plants may be susceptible to powdery mildew, especially during dry seasons. Slugs and snails that eat leaves are dangerous for them; in a short time they can completely gnaw off plant shoots.

Wintering

In the southern regions, frost-resistant species can overwinter in the ground under a layer of mulch. At the end of winter, prune dry parts.

It is convenient to grow perennial species in pots; in the winter they are brought into a cool room for the winter. Keep the root ball slightly moist during winter.

Reproduction

It is a short-lived plant that must be propagated regularly to maintain it unless it disperses spontaneously, which it does willingly. Mimulus is propagated in 2 ways: by sowing or division.

You can sow seeds in greenhouses at 12-15 °C. Do not cover them with soil. Keep the substrate moist. Transplant into pots when the seedlings have 5 leaves. Gradually acclimate them to the outdoors and plant them in the garden after the last frost.

Mimulus division is carried out in the spring, in March-April. The plant is carefully dug up and divided with a sharp knife or shovel. The resulting seedlings are immediately planted in the chosen location.

Diseases and pests

Garden mimulus has high immunity, but its seedlings can be affected by powdery mildew or blackleg. To prevent the development of diseases, it is recommended to treat plantings with a fungicide .

Among the pests that threaten the flower are:

• aphid;
• whitefly;
• slugs;
• snails

Insecticides will help in the fight against insects, but mulching the ground under the mimulus with sawdust works well against gastropods.

Possible confusion in names

Many plant varieties are bred and prepared with seeds for sale in foreign breeding nurseries, from where they are purchased in bulk by Russian companies. When they are packaged in packages, foreign names are translated into Russian in different ways, and are often simply ignored and replaced with new ones invented independently. In this regard, it is quite possible to buy the same varieties under different names from different Russian producers. Unfortunately, we have to make the analogy ourselves. To avoid such cases, it is recommended to buy different varieties of gubastik, and many other seeds grown abroad, from the same company to minimize such confusion.

Application in landscape design

Due to the fact that the sponge is demanding of soil moisture and tolerates light shading well, it is readily planted on the banks of ponds and other artificial reservoirs.

Mimulus looks beautiful in flower pots and flowerpots and goes well with false spirea and funkia (hosta). The plant performs well in the design of rock gardens.

Thanks to the unusual appearance of mimulus and its hardiness, the popularity of the plant is gradually growing; it can increasingly be found in domestic garden plots.

Transplantation and propagation

Any type of mimulus can reproduce by self-seeding. To quickly obtain an adult bush, many gardeners prefer to propagate flowers by cuttings. In the summer, after flowering, the cuttings are cut, transplanted into a pot with loose sandy soil, and covered with a bag for better rooting. After 2 - 3 weeks, cuttings take root quite quickly. Planting of vegetatively grown sponge is done as soon as the cuttings have roots. A less common method of propagation is dividing the bush. It is used in the spring before flowering begins.

Transplanting seedlings into open ground or returning an overwintered plant back to the flowerbed is carried out only by transshipment, in order to preserve the root system. In case of damage and loss of part of the roots, the plant will bloom weakly and will devote all its energy to restoring the underground part.

Growing from seeds

In the spring, in mid-April, seeds are planted immediately in open ground. The soil, enriched with fertilizer and sand, is moistened, and the seeds are applied to the ground in an even layer. Cover the bed with a glass cap or transparent covering material for 2.5 weeks, the first shoots are thinned out, forming future flower beds. This method is less effective compared to seedlings.

When and how does it bloom

Mimulus flowers have different flowering times, depending on the variety and cultivar. An additional difference is the shape and color of the buds themselves.

Blooming mimulus buds

The types of flowers can be very diverse, because each variety is completely individual. And there are more than 15 units. The shape can be spongy - 4 buds are located up, and the fifth down. Sometimes the flowers look more like lilies. Here the variety of forms is also great.

Additional Information! Typically the flowering period lasts from mid-May to the end of June. The second stage lasts from mid-August to the end of September. But some varieties bloom from May to July without stopping the formation of buds.

During the flowering period, you need to carefully monitor watering, since the active growing season requires additional irrigation. In the first and second flowering periods, fertilizing can be reduced to 1 per month. dry leaves, twigs and buds must be removed immediately.

Proper care of mimulus in the flowerbed

Watering

Water your mimulus plants daily to prevent the soil from drying out. Water in the afternoon or evening. Plants are moisture-loving; in hot weather they especially need water.

Do not allow the soil to become waterlogged, otherwise the mimulus may get sick. Monitor the plants, increase the amount of water if they are lethargic. If small holes appear on the leaves, water the flowers less intensively. Water throughout the summer using warm, settled water.

Top dressing

Mimulus need feeding, the first one should be done in the 3rd week after planting in the ground. Then they are fed every 30-45 days. Use mineral fertilizers for ornamental plants. For a bucket of water (10 l) you will need 15 ml of the prepared solution. It is not recommended to use compounds with a high nitrogen content, otherwise the stems will become very elongated.

You can additionally fertilize mimulus with magnesium sulfate, the plant will bloom more abundantly. Fertilizer is also used if flowers do not appear for too long. Magnesium sulfate is applied 1 or 2 times; 10 liters of water will require 20 g of fertilizer.

Loosening, mulching

It is advisable to perform loosening after each watering, while simultaneously removing weeds. It is better to cover the soil around the flowers with mulch. The layer of material will depend on the soil: on loam it should not exceed 2 cm, on sandy loam - 3-6 cm.

The mulch should not touch the stems, otherwise they may rot. You can use the following types of material: pine needles (preferably pine), fallen leaves, wood chips, humus, peat, straw, sawdust. For rock gardens, fine gravel is suitable as mulch.

Pinching

The tops of mimulus plants need to be pinched so that the plants branch well. This is done as early as possible, before the buds appear. In the future, it is necessary to remove drying shoots, this will stimulate flowering. Formed bushes are denser and more elegant, more flowers appear on them.

Care after flowering

After flowering, the plant must be carefully cared for. This is important for collecting seeds for sowing next year.

Collecting seeds

It is necessary to cut off the dry seed pods that appear in September. The material should be stored in glass containers with access to oxygen.

Preparing for winter

In the regions, the crop is grown as an annual. In September, the plant is dug up and destroyed. Often they resort to transplanting the specimen into a flowerpot and leaving it in a cool wintering room for the winter.

Planting seeds in seedlings

Rose Terracotta - description of the hybrid tea variety

Mimulus, which can also be grown from seeds at home, can be propagated using seeds. This is a simple breeding method, but with some nuances.

Time to board

You can sow planting material in boxes as early as the end of February. If planting is done in open ground, then planting is carried out in early May.

Selection of capacity

The container should be low (2-5 cm). The entire surface must be completely covered with glass.

Plant seedlings indoors

Note! It is better to use rectangular boxes with low sides.

Preparing soil and seed

Seeds should only be planted in soil with low acidity. The seeds are pre-sprayed with a solution to accelerate growth.

Important! The temperature in the room where the box will be placed must be at least +18 ℃.

Seeds are often placed on the surface of the soil and lightly sprayed with water at room temperature. The container is covered with glass. Raise the glass daily and aerate the soil. Every 3 days the soil is sprayed with water from a spray bottle.

Seedling care

After about 4 days, the first shoots appear. You need to remove the glass from the box and place the container in a well-lit place. The room temperature should not exceed +10 ℃.

Seedling care

Dive

Seedlings are picked after 3 leaves appear on each seedling. Plant specimens in separate peat pots. Containers with seedlings are placed in a cool place and the soil in them is constantly moistened.