Diplacus puniceus aka Red Bush Monkeyflower

Diplacus puniceus is a small shrub in the Phrymaceae family. It grows wild in southwestern California. Its range extends into northwestern Baja California, Mexico. Kew calls its home climate subtropical. Kew classes it as a shrub or subshrub. The Royal Horticultural Society uses the name Mimulus puniceus. That name is a synonym for this same species. The RHS says it is not native to Britain or Ireland.

The plant has a round shape. It grows about 3 feet [0.9 metres] tall. Its low, woody form does not look like a tree. The thin twigs have a red-brown hue. The bark has the same hue and shreds somewhat. These twig and bark traits go with its round crown. The source gives its height but no width at full growth. It does not say how fast the plant grows.

The leaves stay green all year. They grow in pairs on each side of the stems. Each leaf is simple, with no split into small leaflets. The blades are lanceolate: narrow and shaped like a lance. Their top sides are dark green. The leaf undersides may have hairs or feel like velvet. This trait can vary; not all leaves have that feel. The paired leaves and thin stems form a leafy frame. This frame holds the plant's flowers.

The flowers are orange-red and bloom from spring through summer. They stand upright in pairs where leaves join the stems. Each bloom forms a tube about 1½–2 inches long. Five petal lobes ring the end of each tube. From the front, these lobes can look like a monkey's face. Virginia Tech calls the blooms large and showy. It also notes their strong scent. Their hue and size give the plant its main garden appeal in this account. The fruit is a brown capsule. It splits open when ripe.

The sources give its form, leaves, blooms, and native range. They do not state its garden light or soil needs. They give no guide to how much water it needs. Nor do they give frost limits or a hardiness zone. No source names pests or diseases for this species. They give no evidence of parts to eat or toxic effects. These gaps rule out firm claims about its care or safety.