I've had a devil of a time with Mimulus aurantiacus. If I water them through the summer, they die. If I don't water them through the summer, they die. One thing I've concluded, based upon the vast numbers I've seen in the wild this year (I make frequent trips up Palomar Mountain, and they are abundant on the lower sections of South Grade Road), is that I've gone overboard on trying to give them full sun. Part sun would be better, with some shade through the hottest parts of the day. But I live in Temecula, and my summer days are hotter than yours.

As for S. clevelandii, I've had most success planting them in late fall. Right now I have a batch of plants grown from seed in no.1 pots. I'm nursing them through the summer, and they're getting about 6 hours of full sun every day. I don't have a shade house. In my situation, they don't have to be watered daily (usually every three or four days), but a single, ill-chosen day of forgetfullness could be fatal to them.

Planting both species in the late fall will get both established with the rains under cooler conditions, and make them much more tolerant of full sun and less water come summer. I still plant either one at any time of year here in the SF Bay Area, but we aren't so hot or dry as you are down south. A small 4 inch pot or 1 gallon shrub may need daily watering in summer if recently planted out, you might also find it useful to tip pinch all new growth, which is the most likely to wilt, and would force quick new root growth to get established. I'd also suggest mulching heavily around the plants to keep the soil moister.

Even in coastal southern California, I would imagine that Mimulus aurantiacus should take full sun and only need once weekly watering to keep blooming. It certainly can take full sun and once a month watering here in Berkeley and bloom all summer long, although I do dead head the plant to promote continued blooming all summer.

I have not been able to keep it alive for more than four years, even in partial shade. I notice that it likes north facing slopes around here, so I imagine it needs perfect drainage.
Good luck.
Renee

In a good situation, Mimulus aurantiacus will propagate itself from seed. At the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park, near Escondido, Mimulus is all over the native plant garden, and it doesn't look to me like they intentionally planted it that way.

From what I understand according to a couple of different native plant books I have, there's a variety of mimulus that likes a little more water, and a variety that doesn't. Whichever type I got didn't work and I gave up. However, another native sage I like is "Bee's Bliss". More sprawling than a traditional upright Cleveland, but apparently indestructible and produces a similar flower to the Cleveland. But something that I've found works great (perhaps in place of mimulus) is island bush snapdragon, or galvezia. A very nice trumpet-like red flower attractive to hummers, it's evergreen and tolerant of less than perfect conditions. I hand water these plants once a week, but I'm going to cut back to every two weeks, because they are so robust and don't seem to need it.

Thank you all for your replies. It makes me feel better to know that I'm not the only one struggling with this plant. I was under the impression that Monkey Flowers were an easy species to grow especially because they are native to Southern California. Maybe it has to do with the fact that this is a hybrid species which might be a little more picky. I called the nursery where I bought it from and they told me to try watering it more often, twice a week instead of once every 5 days and trim it a bit. I'll try that and let you guys know what happens.

trpool, thank you for the suggestion on the galvezia. I'll do some research on it and give it a try. I've read that it's a good hummingbird plant which is what I'm converting my backyard to.

Btw, any suggestions on good native plants books would be greatly appreciated especially if they deal with hummingbird plants.

Happy gardening! :)

The Western Garden Book has a section for plants that attract hummingbirds. Most salvias/sages, lavenders attract hummers. Another advantage of salvias/sages is most are recommended/approved by LA County fire dept and most are drought tolerant once established.
FYI-they may also attract bees. If you have children might not be something you want around.