Pink Monkeyflower (Diplacus aurantiacus 'Trish') is a beautiful California native hybrid known for its abundant rosy-pink flowers and glossy, deep green foliage. Its trumpet-shaped blooms provide vibrant color through spring and summer, with flowering often extending into fall and sometimes nearly year-round in mild coastal climates. This compact, drought-tolerant subshrub thrives in well-drained soil and sunny to partially shaded locations. Its long blooming season and nectar-rich flowers make it an excellent choice for pollinator gardens, mixed borders, and low-water California landscapes.

Quick care: Full sun to part shade • Low water once established • Well-drained soil • Long-blooming rosy-pink flowers. See the Plant Profile and Growing Conditions below for full details.

Plant Profile

• Plant Type: Evergreen to semi-deciduous perennial subshrub

• Mature Size: Approximately 1–2 feet tall and 1–2 feet wide, sometimes spreading wider depending on growing conditions

• Native Range: 'Trish' is a cultivated hybrid selected from California native monkeyflower species

• Flower Color: Rosy pink to dusky rose, sometimes fading to salmon-pink

• Bloom Time: Spring through summer, with potential for extended flowering in mild coastal climates

• Foliage: Glossy, deep green leaves that may feel slightly sticky

• Growth Habit: Compact, rounded, branching shrub with an abundance of tubular flowers

Growing Conditions

• Sun: Full sun along the coast; part shade is beneficial in hot inland climates

• Water: Low to occasional; prefers careful watering and occasional deep summer soaks

• Soil: Well-drained sandy, rocky, or loamy soil; can tolerate heavier soils with adequate drainage

• USDA Zones: Approximately 8–10, depending on local conditions

• Drought Tolerant: Yes — once established

• Maintenance: Low to moderate; pinch stem tips to encourage branching and support abundant flowers. Lightly prune when new growth begins or after flowering to maintain a compact shape.

Planting Instructions

• Best Planting Time: Fall through spring in California, when temperatures are mild

• Spacing: Plant approximately 2–3 feet apart, allowing room for mature growth and airflow

• Planting Depth: Dig a hole as deep as the root ball and about twice as wide. Set the plant at the same depth it was growing in its nursery container

• Establishment Water: Water thoroughly after planting. Water regularly during the establishment period, allowing the soil to drain between waterings

• Long-Term Care: Gradually reduce watering as the plant establishes. Once established, water sparingly, with occasional deep summer watering as needed. Avoid frequent irrigation and poorly drained soil. In hot inland climates, provide afternoon shade to help reduce heat stress. Lightly pinch or prune stems to encourage fresh growth and additional flowering.

Wildlife & Pollinators

• Attracts: Hummingbirds, native bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects

• Pollinator Value: Tubular, nectar-rich flowers attract hummingbirds and insect pollinators throughout the flowering season

• Wildlife Benefits: Serves as a larval food plant for Painted Lady and checkerspot butterflies

• Deer Resistant: Generally considered deer resistant, although occasional browsing may occur

• Garden Benefits: Excellent for pollinator gardens, mixed perennial borders, containers, and low-water landscapes

• Notable: Pink Monkeyflower stands out for its dusky rose-pink blooms and compact growth habit. Its flowers contrast beautifully with dark green foliage and pair well with California native sages, buckwheats, and other drought-tolerant perennials. For best results, provide good drainage and avoid excessive summer watering.