Diplacus bicolor
Harlequin monkeyflower
(c) Ryan Elliott, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ryan Elliott · licence
Family: Phrymaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Diplacus bicolor (Harlequin monkeyflower) is a native California herb in the Phrymaceae family, recognized by high elevation and distinctive throat markings.
Harlequin monkeyflower is a California native annual found in southern Sierra Nevada Mountains in disturbed areas, road banks, and exposed granitic soils at elevations of 1,500 to 3,270 meters. Flowering from May to September, this plant produces magenta or yellow flowers with distinctive red-brown longitudinal stripes and broader blotches in the throat, creating a striking two-toned appearance. Growing with delicate stems 1 to 14 centimeters tall and covered in fine hairs, it forms a compact, low-growing plant. Its leaves are narrow and linear to elliptic, measuring 7 to 23 millimeters long and remaining entire along the edges. When mature, the plant develops small fruits 6 to 10 millimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; high elevation and distinctive throat markings
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas, road banks, exposed runoff areas, granitic soils
Elevation: generally 1500-3270 m
Bloom period
Diplacus bicolor blooms May-Sep.
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 bicolor native to California?
Yes. Diplacus bicolor is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Diplacus bicolor bloom?
Diplacus bicolor blooms May-Sep.
What plant family does Diplacus bicolor belong to?
Diplacus bicolor is in the Phrymaceae family, genus Diplacus.
What habitat does Diplacus bicolor grow in?
Diplacus bicolor grows in Disturbed areas, road banks, exposed runoff areas, granitic soils.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Diplacus bigelovii — Bigelow's monkeyflower
- Diplacus bigelovii var. bigelovii — Bigelow's monkeyflower
- Diplacus bigelovii var. cuspidatus — Bigelow's monkeyflower
- Diplacus bolanderi — Bolander's monkeyflower
- Diplacus brandegeei — Santa cruz island monkeyflower
- Diplacus brevipes — Wide-throat yellow monkeyflower
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.