Native Plant Database

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Root Type: Tap
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Lanceolate , Ovate
Leaf Margin: Crenate
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Size Notes: 3-6
Flower:
Fruit:
Size Class: 3-6 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Orange , Yellow
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct

Distribution

USA: AR , AZ , CO , HI , NM , OK
Native Distribution: In dry and rocky open woodlands and prairies from the Edwards Plateau to West Texas.
Native Habitat: Dry, rocky open woodlands and prairies.
USDA Native Status: L48(N), HI(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Drought Tolerance: High
Conditions Comments: Indian mallow has gray, slightly velvety foliage which provides interesting texture in a xeric garden. Cut it back in the winter to encourage bushy, new spring growth. Indian mallow is a larval host plant and a nectar source for several butterfly species.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Used in dried flower arrangements.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Larval Host: Texas Powdered Skipper, Common Streaky-Skipper
Nectar Source: yes
Deer Resistant: Minimal

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Abutilon incanum is a larval host and/or nectar source for:

White Scrub-Hairstreak (Strymon albata) Larval Host Learn more at BAMONA

Texas Powdered Skipper (Systasea pulverulenta) Larval Host Learn more at BAMONA

Common Streaky-Skipper (Celotes nessus) Larval Host Learn more at BAMONA

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds
Description: Grows better through the warmer seasons.
Seed Collection: Collect seed throughout summer.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Fredericksburg Nature Center - Fredericksburg, TX
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Brackenridge Field Laboratory - Austin, TX

Herbarium Specimen(s)

NPSOT 0033 Collected Sept. 22, 1990 in Bexar County by Judith C. Berry

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-515 Collected 2007-07-09 in Travis County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Bibliography

Bibref 1186 - Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
Bibref 1185 - Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright
Bibref 328 - Wildflowers of Texas (2003) Ajilvsgi, Geyata.
Bibref 286 - Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country (1989) Enquist, M.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Abutilon incanum in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Abutilon incanum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Abutilon incanum