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Native Plant Database

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Sphaeralcea ambigua (Desert globemallow)
Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Sphaeralcea ambigua Gray

Desert globemallow, Apricot globe-mallow, Desert mallow, Globe mallow, Apricot mallow

Malvaceae (Mallow Family)

USDA Symbol: spam2

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Shrubby and woolly, this perennial grows 1-3 ft., with numerous large, apricot-orange flowers in wand-like clusters near the tips of weak, wide-ranging, sometimes sprawling stems. The broad leaves have three lobes and rounded, scalloped edges. A grayish plant often with many stems, and bright orange-red flowers in clusters with erect branches.

One of the largest-flowered, most drought-tolerant species of Globe-mallow. In wet years it forms spectacular displays in the low, hot southwestern deserts. In some forms petals are pale purplish-pink.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf: Green
Fruit:
Size Class: 1-3 ft.

Bloom Information

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

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , NV , UT
Native Distribution: S.w. UT to s. CA, s. to Mex.
Native Habitat: Dry, rocky slopes; sandy wash edges to 3500 ft.
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Soil Description: Dry, rocky or sandy soils.
Conditions Comments: This drought tolerant plant is the most xeriphytic of the Southwest Sphaeralceas. It is relatively short-lived but usually self-seeds.

Benefit

Use Wildlife: The large number of flowers produced over a year provides a steady source of pollen and nectar to honey bees and other insects.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Description: Plant untreated seed 1/4 deep in fall. Usually will germinate in the winter and grow rapidly in the spring.
Seed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: No treatment needed.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

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:

Texas Discovery Gardens - Dallas, TX
Sibley Nature Center - Midland, TX
NPSOT - Austin Chapter - Austin, TX
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Bibliography

Bibref 995 - Native Landscaping from El Paso to L.A. (2000) Wasowski, S. and A. Wasowski

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-02-21
Research By: TWC Staff

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