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Malvaceae
Desert Mallow
Sphaeralcea ambigua
Warmth and welcoming.
- Family
- Malvaceae
- Genus
- Sphaeralcea
- Native to
- Southwestern United States, Northern Mexico
- Bloom season
- Spring, Summer, Fall
- Type
- Herbaceous perennial
- Height
- 0.5-1 meter
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil
- Sandy, rocky, well-drained
- Water
- Low
- Hardiness
- 6-10
- Lifespan
- Perennial
Did you know
- Desert mallow is also called 'apricot mallow' due to its distinctive salmon-orange color.
- The plant's leaves are covered in star-shaped hairs that can irritate skin and eyes.
- It blooms prolifically even in the driest years, earning the nickname 'desert faithful.'
- Native Americans chewed the roots to treat sore throats and used leaf poultices for wounds.
- Desert tortoises are known to eat desert mallow flowers as part of their diet.
Color meanings
0
Warmth
1
Gentleness
2
Consumed by love