Taxon Report

Diplacus aridus Abrams

low bush monkeyflower

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Diplacus aridus, commonly known as low bush monkeyflower, is a perennial evergreen shrub in the Phrymaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Chaparral (rocky), and Sonoran desert scrub, growing at elevations from 750 to 1200 meters. Diplacus aridus is ranked 4.3, Plants of Limited Distribution, A Watch List; Not very threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Diplacus aridus Abrams
Common Name:	low bush monkeyflower
Family:	Phrymaceae
Element Code:	PDSCR22040
USDA Plants Symbol:	DIAR6
Synonyms/Other Names:	Mimulus aridus Mimulus aurantiacus var. aridus

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial evergreen shrub
Blooming Period: Apr-Jul	Apr-Jul
Elevation:	750-1200 (2460-3935)
General Habitats:	Chaparral, Sonoran desert scrub
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	4.3
Global Rank:	G4
State Rank:	S3
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	SB_CalBG/RSABG; SB_CRES
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	0
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	0
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	0

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Imperial (IMP), San Diego (SDG), Santa Barbara (SBA)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Agua Caliente Springs (3211683), Earthquake Valley (3311614), Fallbrook (3311743), In-ko-pah Gorge (3211661), Jacumba (3211662), Julian (3311615), La Jolla (3211772), Live Oak Springs (3211663), Mesa Grande (3311627), Monument Peak (3211684), Ranchita (3311625), Sombrero Peak (3211673), Sweeney Pass (3211672), Tierra Del Sol (3211653), Tranquillon Mtn. (3412055), Tubb Canyon (3311624)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	0
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	0	0 %

Notes



Possibly threatened by vehicles. See Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 32:540 (1905) for original description, Phytoneuron* 2012-39:1-60 (2012) for revised nomenclature, and Phytoneuron 2012-45:1-20 (2012) for taxonomic treatment.*
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 9 May 2025].