Flower profile

Dwarf purple monkeyflower

Diplacus nanus

Native to Idaho

Dwarf purple monkeyflower is a flowering plant. In Idaho it's most often seen in bloom in May–July.

–states

522ID sightings*

1,350U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Idaho

Quick look

Diplacus nanus is a species of monkeyflower known by the common name dwarf purple monkeyflower. It is native to California and the Northwestern United States to Montana. It grows in moist habitat, often in bare or disturbed soils. It was formerly known as Mimulus nanus.
From Wikipedia's article Diplacus nanus, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Phrymaceae family. ^iNaturalist
NatureServe lists it as native to Idaho. ^NatureServe
In Idaho, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–July. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 522 research-grade sightings of it in Idaho, ranking #62 among the 109 flowers on our Idaho list. ^iNaturalist

Dwarf purple monkeyflower gift ideas

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When does it bloom?

In Idaho, most flowering sightings come in May–July.

Flowering records by month in Idaho (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (151 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: G5 Secure worldwide. ^NatureServe
Idaho: No list Idaho has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Idaho ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Idaho.
Rare elsewhere: Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: MT (S2), WY (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant)) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS has no state-by-state distribution for this name, so we can't map it yet.

More Idaho flowers

Lewis' monkeyflower

Erythranthe lewisii

Native

🌼 Blooms in ID: July–August

Great mullein

Verbascum thapsus

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in ID: June–October

Showy milkweed

Asclepias speciosa

Native

🌼 Blooms in ID: June–August

Sources

USDA PLANTS: no profile matched this name.
iNaturalist, Diplacus nanus: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Diplacus nanus (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Idaho: Idaho noxious weeds (IDAPA 02.06.09, Section 220).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Diplacus nanus (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
Photo: Todd Boland via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.