Diplacus aurantiacus
Orange bush monkeyflower
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Phrymaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Diplacus aurantiacus (Orange bush monkeyflower) is a native California shrub in the Phrymaceae family, recognized by shrub with orange flowers on coastal cliffs.
Orange bush monkeyflower is a California native shrub found in coastal areas including coastal cliffs and canyon sides at elevations below 800 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces yellow-orange to orange flowers with distinctive asymmetrical lobes in clusters of 2 to 4 blooms. Growing with an upright form, this subshrub reaches heights featuring narrow elliptic leaves with edges often rolled under and pale undersides covered in branched or stellate hairs. Its leaves are narrowly elliptic to linear, ranging from entire to slightly serrate with a delicate, pale green appearance. The fruit develops 18 to 31 millimeters long, eventually splitting along its upper suture.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; shrub with orange flowers on coastal cliffs
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas, coastal cliffs, canyon sides
Elevation: < 800 m
Bloom period
Diplacus aurantiacus blooms Mar-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Erythranthe: Diplacus has a corolla that withers and stays attached and typically grows in dry, rocky places; Erythranthe drops its corolla cleanly and favors wet seeps and streambanks.; vs Mimulus: Diplacus covers the shrubby and small annual western monkeyflowers with ribbed, inflating calyces; Mimulus (in the strict sense) is a fleshy-stemmed perennial with squarish 4-angled stems.; vs Mimetanthe: Diplacus is puberulent to glandular with a distinctly 2-lipped flower; Mimetanthe is densely long-soft-wavy-hairy with tiny yellow flowers and a nearly regular calyx.; vs Collinsia: Diplacus has an open funnel-throated corolla and a 5-ribbed calyx; Collinsia has a sharply 2-lipped flower with the middle lower lobe folded into a keel that hides the stamens.; vs Antirrhinum: Diplacus has an open-throated corolla and free calyx lobes; Antirrhinum (snapdragon) has a closed, pouched throat sealed by a palate and a spurless sac at the base.
Frequently asked questions
Is Diplacus aurantiacus native to California?
Yes. Diplacus aurantiacus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Diplacus aurantiacus bloom?
Diplacus aurantiacus blooms Mar-Jun.
What plant family does Diplacus aurantiacus belong to?
Diplacus aurantiacus is in the Phrymaceae family, genus Diplacus.
What habitat does Diplacus aurantiacus grow in?
Diplacus aurantiacus grows in Disturbed areas, coastal cliffs, canyon sides.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.