Mimulus (guttatus)

Dave Skinner PMC Farm Manager USDA NRCS - Pullman Plant Materials Center Room 211A Hulbert Hall WSU Pullman, Washington 99164-6211 509-335-9689 509-335-2940 (fax) abbie@wsu.edu http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/wapmc

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Family Scientific Name:	Scrophulariaceae
Family Common Name:	Figwort
Scientific Name:	Mimulus guttatus DC
Common Synonym:	Mimulus nasutus Greene
Common Name:	Seep, Yellow or Common monkeyflower
Species Code:	MIGU
Ecotype:	Paradise Creek drainage near Pullman, WA.
General Distribution:	Moist to wet soils of springs, seeps, meadows, and streambanks in the western US east to North Dakota and Nebraska and south to New Mexico and California. Also found in Michigan, New York, Delaware, and Connecticut. It is ranked as an obligate wetland species over its range.
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Time To Grow:	4 Months
Target Specifications:	Tight root plug in container.
Propagule Collection:	Seeds are collected when the capsules begin to split in July. Capsules can be harvested individually or seed can be collected by shaking into a container. Seed is stored in paper bags or envelopes at room temperature until cleaned. Seed is brown in color and small. 4,000,000 seeds/lb (PLANTS Database).
Propagule Processing:	Seed shaken from capsules needs no cleaning. Capsules can be crushed to release seed. Seed is cleaned with an air column separator. Clean seed is stored in controlled conditions at 40 degrees Fahrenheit and 40% relative humidity.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	None required. 74% germination was obtained without pretreatment.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	In January seed is sown in the greenhouse in 10 cu. in. Ray Leach Super cell conetainers filled with Sunshine #1 and covered lightly. Head space of 1/4 to « inch is maintained in conetainers to allow deep watering. A thin layer of pea gravel is applied to prevent seeds from floating. Conetainers are watered deeply.
Establishment Phase:	Medium is kept moist until germination occurs. Germination usually begins in 6 days and continues over a period of 2-3weeks.
Length of Establishment Phase:	2-3 weeks
Active Growth Phase:	Plants are watered deeply once every day and fertilized twice per week with a complete, water soluble fertilizer containing micro-nutrients. Mimulus guttatus is an obligate wetland species and must be kept wet. Greenhouse soils with high drainage are more difficult to keep saturated but can be used if watered more frequently. Growth is rapid after germination.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	2 months
Hardening Phase:	Plants are moved to the cold frame in late March or early April, depending on weather conditions. They are watered every day if the weather is cool, and twice per day during hot, dry spells.
Length of Hardening Phase:	2 weeks
Other Comments:	Seed stored for 4 years at 40 degrees Fahrenheit and 40% relative humidity exhibited a lower germination rate spread out over a much longer time, suggesting that dry stored seed may enter a secondary dormancy. Mimulus langsdorfii Donn ex Greene is also synonymous.
References:	Hitchcock and Cronquist. Flora of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press. 1973. USDA, NRCS. 2002. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA. Young and Young. Collecting, Processing and Germinating Seeds of Wildland Plants. Timber Press. 1986. Kruckeberg, Arthur R. Gardening with Native Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press. 2nd ed. 1996. Guard, B. Jennifer. Wetland Plants of Oregon and Washington. Lone Pine Publishing, 1995.

Citation:

Skinner, David M,. 2003. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Mimulus guttatus DC plants USDA NRCS - Pullman Plant Materials Center Pullman, Washington. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/07/02). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.