Diplacus australis
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Family: Phrymaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Diplacus australis is a native California shrub in the Phrymaceae family, recognized by shrub with orange flowers on granite.
Southern monkey flower is a California native shrub found in granite outcrops and chaparral openings in coastal areas at elevations of 50 to 950 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces yellow-orange to orange flowers in clusters of two to four, with tubular blossoms 25 to 35 millimeters long. Growing with an upright form reaching shrub height, it features glabrous stems that can be glandular-puberulent with short soft hairs. Its leaves are linear to lanceolate, positioned with mostly flat edges and occasionally slightly rolled under, ranging from entirely smooth to lightly serrated. The fruit develops 15 to 22 millimeters long, splitting along its upper suture.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; shrub with orange flowers on granite
Habitat and range
Habitat: Granite outcrops, openings in chaparral, disturbed areas
Elevation: 50-950 m
Outside California: northern Baja California
Bloom period
Diplacus australis 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 australis native to California?
Yes. Diplacus australis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Diplacus australis bloom?
Diplacus australis blooms Mar-Jun.
What plant family does Diplacus australis belong to?
Diplacus australis is in the Phrymaceae family, genus Diplacus.
What habitat does Diplacus australis grow in?
Diplacus australis grows in Granite outcrops, openings in chaparral, disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora
Last updated 2026-10-08
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.