It’s the Mimulus aurantiacus, or Sticky Monkey Flower, “easily found in our local foothills in abundance and in a variety of colors, yellow to orange to red,” according to the report to the City Council.

The idea of a city flower came from the Claremont Community Foundation as a way to celebrate its 20th anniversary. The foundation plans to distribute Monkey Flower seed packets. Six possible city flowers were identified by Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden in Claremont, all California natives, and the Monkey Flower was its top choice.

Unafraid to make the tough decisions, the City Council named it Claremont’s official flower at Tuesday’s meeting.

The only other Inland Valley city flower I’m aware of is Ontario’s Charlotte Armstrong Rose. The rose was named for the wife of the founder of Armstrong Nursery, which began in Ontario circa 1889.