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Glase, Terry
Erythranthe lewisii
Erythranthe lewisii (Pursh) G.L.Nesom & N.S.Fraga
Lewis' Monkeyflower, Purple Monkeyflower, Great Purple Monkeyflower, Pink Monkeyflower
Phrymaceae (Lopseed Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: ERLE17
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N)
“Perennials, rhizomatous. Stems erect, usually simple, (15–)25–60(–75) cm, stipitate-glandular to glandular-villous.” (Webref: 38).
“Erythranthe lewisii in California occurs in Modoc, Siskiyou, and Trinity counties. California records from Shasta County and south previously identified as E. lewisii are identified here as E. erubescens. The record for E. lewisii in Alaska is documented by this collection: Hyder [noted on handwritten label as "New to Alaska, Standley"], damp land, 27 June 1924, K. Whited 1291 (MO).
Apparent exceptions to the characteristic flower color are these: white to lavender in Nevada (Clark County, Charleston Mountains, Train 2068, MO); pinkish white in Washington (Skamania and Yakima counties, Mt. Paddo, Suksdorf 5779, MO); white or tinged with yellow, in Wyoming (Teton County, as described by Nelson in the protologue of Mimulus lewisii var. tetonensis).” (Webref: 38).
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Herb
Leaf Shape: Elliptic , Oblanceolate , Ovate
Leaf Pubescence: Glandular
Leaf Margin: Denticulate , Entire
Leaf Apex: Acute
Leaf Base: Cuneate , Rounded
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 30 inches tall.
Leaf: “Leaves cauline; petiole 0 mm; blade palmately veined, elliptic to ovate, ovate-lanceolate, or broadly oblanceolate, (10–)25–75(–90) × 5–35 mm, base rounded to cuneate, subclasping, margins denticulate, subentire, or entire, apex acute, surfaces stipitate-glandular to glandular-villous.” (Webref: 38).
Flower: “Flowers herkogamous, 2–6(–10), axillary at leafy medial to distal nodes. Fruiting pedicels (25–)35–70 mm, stipitate-glandular to glandular-villous. Fruiting calyces broadly cylindric-campanulate, not inflated, 15–22 mm, stipitate-glandular to glandular-villous, tube 12–15(–17) × 9–12 mm. Corollas purple, rarely crimson, pale violet, white, pinkish white, yellowish white, or lavender, sometimes lined with red dots, bilaterally symmetric, strongly bilabiate; tube-throat funnelform, 22–28 mm, exserted beyond calyx margins; lobe apex usually truncate to shallowly convex, shallowly retuse, throat open. Styles glabrous. Anthers included, white-villous, thecae spreading.” (Webref: 38).
Fruit: “Capsules included, 6–11 mm.” (Webref: 38).
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: White , Red , Pink , Yellow , Purple , VioletBloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep
Bloom Notes: “Phenology: Flowering Jun–Sep.” (Webref: 38).
Distribution
USA: AK , CA , CO , ID , MT , NV , OR , UT , WA , WYCanada: AB , BC
Native Distribution: US Pacific Coast States, west to Colorado, Wyoming and Montana, and British Columbia and Alberta.
Native Habitat: "Habitat: Stream banks, springs, wet meadows, subalpine slopes, talus, crevices, ditches. Elevation: 600–2900(–3200) m.” (Webref: 38).
Growing Conditions
Light Requirement: Part ShadeSoil Moisture: Wet
Soil Description: Moist or wet soils.
Propagation
Description: Easily increased through root divisions of the ever-enlarging clumps. Seeds may also be used.Seed Treatment: No treatment is necessary.
Commercially Avail: yes
Find Seed or Plants
Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.
View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.
National Wetland Indicator Status
| Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
| Status: | FACW | FACW | FACW |
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR
Web Reference
Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) CalfloraWebref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Erythranthe lewisii in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Erythranthe lewisii in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Erythranthe lewisii
Metadata
Record Modified: 2025-10-28Research By: Joseph A. Marcus