Does it need regular pruning?

Yes, light pruning after flowering helps maintain a compact shape and encourages more blooms.

Can I grow it in a pot?

It grows very well in containers provided they have excellent drainage.

Plant guide

Sticky monkeyflower.

Diplacus aurantiacus

Pronounced DIP-la-kus aw-ran-tee-AY-kus

Also known as Sticky or Orange Bush Monkey-flower, bush monkey-flower, bush monkeyflower, orange bush monkey-flower, orange bush monkeyflower, orange sticky monkeyflower, sticky monkey-flower

orange bush monkeyflower — Photo by 66dodge (CC BY) via iNaturalist

The sticky monkeyflower is a lovely shrub native to western North America. It produces vibrant, trumpet shaped flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden. You will enjoy how its resinous leaves give it a unique, shiny appearance.

Another photo of Sticky monkeyflower — Photo by lazarus (CC BY) via iNaturalist

At a glance

Care level: Moderate
Plant type: Evergreen shrub
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 3 to 5 feet
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 8 to 10
Bloom time: Spring to late summer

Care

Plant this shrub in well draining soil to prevent root rot. Watch for yellowing leaves, which often signal that the plant is getting too much water. Prune back after flowering to encourage a bushier shape and more blooms next season.

Watering: Allow the soil to dry out significantly between waterings.
Feeding: Apply a light, balanced fertilizer during the active growing season.
Pruning: Trim back the stems once the flowering period ends to maintain shape.
Repotting: Repot only when the plant becomes root bound in its container.
Soil: Sandy or rocky, well draining
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Temperature: -7 to 35°C
Humidity: 20 to 50%
Drought tolerance: High
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 5 to 10 years
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Water sitting on the surface for too long.
Stunted growth during the active season.

Safety

People: The plant is generally considered non-toxic, but the sticky resin can cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Children: The sticky foliage may be messy for small children to handle, but it poses no significant ingestion risk.
Contact allergens: The sticky, resinous foliage can cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: There are no notable respiratory allergens associated with this plant.
Edibility: This plant is not considered edible and may cause stomach upset if ingested.

How to identify it

Trumpet shaped orange or yellow flowers
Resinous and sticky lance shaped leaves
Woody stems with peeling bark
Opposite leaf arrangement on stems

Height: 0.6 to 1.2m
Spread: 0.6 to 1.2m
Leaves: dark green, sticky, evergreen
Flowers: orange, apricot, red, yellow, 3 to 5cm
Fruit: brown, late summer

Problems to watch for

AphidsCommon
Powdery MildewCommon
Root RotUncommon
Spider MitesUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: cuttings, seed
When to plant: spring, fall
Overwintering: Keep the soil on the drier side during winter to prevent root rot. If you live in a very cold area, move the container to a sheltered spot.
In containers: It is excellent for containers, provided you use a fast draining potting mix and a pot at least 30 cm wide.

Stem Cuttings

1. Take 10 cm cuttings from non-flowering stems in spring.
2. Remove the lower leaves.
3. Dip the end in rooting hormone.
4. Place in a well-draining potting mix.
5. Keep moist until roots form.

Group this plant with other drought tolerant natives to ensure they all receive the same low water treatment.

Grows well with

California Sagebrush · They share similar water and sun requirements in a native landscape.
Cleveland Sage · This companion provides a lovely color contrast and attracts similar pollinators.

Similar species

Mimulus cardinalis · A related species that prefers much wetter soil conditions.

Science

Family: Phrymaceae
Genus: Diplacus
Order: Lamiales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Western North America, primarily California and Oregon.
Conservation: This plant is common in its native range and is not currently of conservation concern.

This plant is adapted to survive in dry, sunny chaparral and coastal scrub environments.

Value to wildlife: nectar source, larval host plant
Pollinators: bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
Uses: xeriscaping, pollinator gardens, coastal landscaping, container gardening

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 4/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 8/9
Temperature: 7/9
Moisture: 2/9
Nutrients: 2/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it need regular pruning?: Yes, light pruning after flowering helps maintain a compact shape and encourages more blooms.
Can I grow it in a pot?: It grows very well in containers provided they have excellent drainage.

Where the name comes from

The name Diplacus comes from the Greek words for double and plate, referring to the split seed capsules. Aurantiacus refers to the orange color of the flowers.

Good to know

It is commonly known as the sticky monkey flower because the flowers resemble a monkey face.
The plant is highly drought tolerant once established.
It thrives in poor, rocky soils where other plants struggle.
The genus name Diplacus refers to the two-parted seed pod.

Also in

Drought-tolerant plants

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.