Diplacus johnstonii
Johnston's monkeyflower
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Phrymaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Diplacus johnstonii (Johnston's monkeyflower) is a native California herb in the Phrymaceae family, recognized by oblique calyx mouth and even lobe spread.
Johnston's monkeyflower is a native annual herb found in the southern Gabilan and southern Baja California mountain ranges on road banks and disturbed areas, especially scree slopes, at elevations of 975 to 2,920 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces magenta flowers with yellow throat floors and distinctive dark maroon patches at the corolla mouth. Growing with fine white-puberulent stems 3 to 20 centimeters tall, it has a delicate and compact form. Its leaves are oblanceolate to obovate, 7 to 30 millimeters long with generally acute tips. The fruit is 7 to 12 millimeters long with an oblique calyx mouth and unequal erect to spreading lobes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; oblique calyx mouth and even lobe spread
Habitat and range
Habitat: Road banks, disturbed areas, especially scree
Elevation: generally 975-2920 m
Bloom period
Diplacus johnstonii blooms May-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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 johnstonii native to California?
Yes. Diplacus johnstonii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Diplacus johnstonii bloom?
Diplacus johnstonii blooms May-Aug.
What plant family does Diplacus johnstonii belong to?
Diplacus johnstonii is in the Phrymaceae family, genus Diplacus.
Is Diplacus johnstonii rare or endangered?
Diplacus johnstonii carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S4.
What habitat does Diplacus johnstonii grow in?
Diplacus johnstonii grows in Road banks, disturbed areas, especially scree.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.