Sphaeralcea Species, Apricot Mallow, Desert Globemallow, Orange Mallow

Was hesitant at first. Although I read it’s native of southwest and Southern California, my climate although is 9-9b, I’m in Northern...Read More California, just 10mi( as the crow flys) from the San Francisco-Oakland Bay in the East hills. However it seems to be handling a dry clay bed next to my other natives. It’s even out preforming my Texas sage. That’s good but now I’m sad for my Texas sage bush I planted her next to.

Also I planted it next to my Rock Purslane ‘Cistanthe grandiflora’ My favorite. And these two compliment each other add texture, height and color variety. The lizards also seem to approve.

Desert Globemallow is native to Southern Utah, and is an extremely beautiful Mojave/Sonoran Desert indicator species. This plant stays co...Read Morempletely evergreen in its native habitat in Utah (zone 7b-9b). They can be found in Washington, Kane, Grand, and San Juan County. Sphaeralacea ambigua will even bloom during the winter in Washington County (zone 8a-9b) if the rains are good enough. Desert Mallow even stays evergreen in Salt Lake City (zone 7b), even though this is about 1.5- 2 hours north of its native habitat! This is an extremely tough and durable little shrub, and it grows pretty fast in the blazing heat of the summer with little to no supplemental water. They look just as happy at 110 F in full sun, as they do at 80F. They look so attractive in rock gardens mixed in with Agaves, Hesperaloes, Dasylirions, and Yuccas. Their gorgeous fire orange blooms REALLY stand out contrasted with the silver/blue velvety foliage. This should be in every garden in the Southwest, as it’s native to a huge area and many different animals benefit from it!

Bought this at a nursery in Austin TX and brought home to Dallas area. Did not expect it to survive the winter but it was one of the fir...Read Morest plants to come back and bloom. It's my husband's favorite plant. I didn't like it at first but love it now. We get multiple colors on the same plant.

I don't know why this plant is not used more often in desert Xeroscapes. Do not rub your eyes after handling this plant, it has a common...Read More name "sore-eye poppy". I had interns complain about skin irritation after collecting seeds from this plant, however I have never experienced this myself. I have had limited success with being able to grow out this plant from seed, yet it seems to readily colonize vacant areas in Las Vegas. As an added bonus these "hibiscuses" are able to suppress cheatgrass and red brome here in the Mojave.