Sharpwing Monkeyflower (Mimulus alatus) is in the lopseed family family (Phrymaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,868 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.
Nationally it blooms mainly from July to August, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Sharpwing Monkeyflower: observations by month (U.S.)
About Sharpwing Monkeyflower
The sharpwing monkeyflower, Mimulus alatus, is an herbaceous eudicot perennial that has no floral scent. It is native to North America and its blooming season is from June to September. The flowering plant has green foliage and blue to violet flowers. It has a short life span compared to most other plants and a rapid growth rate. Like other monkey-flowers of the Mimulus genus, M. alatus grows best in wet to moist conditions and has aFrom Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Sharpwing Monkeyflower by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 306 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Kentucky | 199 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Indiana | 138 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Arkansas | 122 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Missouri | 120 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Virginia | 112 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Maryland | 109 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Mississippi | 107 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Pennsylvania | 102 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Tennessee | 98 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Illinois | 80 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Alabama | 59 | August | Jul–Sep |
| North Carolina | 55 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Louisiana | 37 | August | Jul–Oct |
| Georgia | 35 | July | Jul–Sep |
| New York | 32 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Oklahoma | 29 | September | Jul–Oct |
| New Jersey | 22 | August | Jul–Aug |
| South Carolina | 22 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Texas | 22 | August | Jul–Aug |
| West Virginia | 22 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Kansas | 10 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Connecticut | 7 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Michigan | 6 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Delaware | 5 | August | Aug–Aug |
| District of Columbia | 5 | July | Jul–Jul |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (lopseed family)
Allegheny monkeyflower
Orange Bush Monkeyflower
Seep Monkeyflower
Scarlet Monkeyflower
Lewis' monkeyflower
Red Bush Monkeyflower
Southern Bush Monkeyflower
Shy Monkeyflower
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Sharpwing Monkeyflower?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from July to August.
Where is Sharpwing Monkeyflower most often seen?
The most observations come from Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana.