Scarlet Monkeyflower Erythranthe cardinalis
Family: Phrymaceae
Herbaceous, spreading, evergreen perennial that gets 1-2’ tall (when flowering). Rarely nut not often in Arizona, plants can get to 3-4’ tall when blooming though this is usually not seen in Arizona. In summer, reddish orange, tubular flowers appear.
Plant in part sun in the low desert. Provide regular water. Plants can be grown in submerged, wet soil, especially if flowing. Hardy to about 15°F.
Hummingbird pollinated. Larval host for several species of the gorgeous Annaphila genus of moths.
The entire plants are edible. This species is also used medicinally for many ailments.
Photo by Alex Heyman, iNaturalist
Erythranthe cardinalist on SEINET
The derivation of Erythranthe is from Greek ἐρυθρός ("erythros"), red, with ἄνθος ("anthos"), flower referring to many species in the genus that have red flowers (even this species has red in the throat). The species, cardinalis, means red.
Found in wet soils of streambanks, seeps, and springs from 2,000-8,000’ in Oregon, down the coast into Baja California, and in Utah, south through Arizona and New Mexico, into Sonora, Sinoloa, and Nayarit.