Mimulus x hybridus Medius F1 Mix seeds - Monkey flower

The Mimulus Medius F1 Mix brings together compact monkey flowers with large spotted flowers, in a vibrant palette of yellows, oranges, reds, creams and bicolours. This hybrid quickly forms small cushions to brighten up cool spots in the garden. The summer flowering period extends throughout the season if the soil remains moist. This easy-to-grow mix is just as good for pots and window boxes as it is for the edges of water features. It adds brightness to partial shade, where few plants flower for so long.

This monkey flower belongs to the Phrymaceae family and descends from South American species such as Erythranthe lutea and E. cuprea, native to the cool riverbanks of Chile and western Argentina. Here, it is grown as an annual, although the species is originally a short-lived perennial. The 'Medius F1' series, developed by the Czech seed house Černý Seed, has been selected for its very compact habit, dense branching and early flowering (6 to 8 weeks after sowing). Compared with older monkey flowers, often looser in habit, Medius F1 Mix offers denser clumps and noticeably larger flowers. Each plant reaches 20 to 25cm in height and spread. Its well-branched stems are clothed in bright green, oval, finely toothed leaves. The flowers are around 5 cm across with a wide-open throat and five rounded lobes, marked with darker spots or blotches that contrast against the pale or vivid background. They appear in succession from June until the first frosts, attracting bees and other insects.

In the garden, the Mimulus Medius F1 Mix earns its place in a cool border, at the foot of a shaded wall, near a water feature or in a pot on a terrace sheltered from full sun. Sow under cover, prick out into pots, then plant out in small, dense groups to create bold splashes of colour. You can pair it with the fragrant tuberous begonia 'Scentsation Mixed F1 Hybrid', and New Guinea impatiens 'Florific Sweet Orange', which enjoy the same conditions. For a more refined display, combine with wax begonia 'Organdy Mixed', which forms a neat carpet, or make a more naturalistic scheme with Mimulus luteus and the shrubby monkey flower Mimulus aurantiacus 'Mai Tai Orange'.