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Malacothamnus fasciculatus
Malacothamnus fasciculatus (Nutt. ex Torr. & A. Gray) Greene
Chaparral Mallow, Chaparral Bush Mallow, Chaparral Bush-mallow
Malvaceae (Mallow Family)
Synonym(s): Malacothamnus arcuatus, Malacothamnus fasciculatus ssp. catalinensis, Malacothamnus fasciculatus ssp. laxiflorus, Malacothamnus fasciculatus var. catalinensis, Malacothamnus fasciculatus var. laxiflorus, Malacothamnus fasciculatus var. nesioticus, Malacothamnus fasciculatus var. nuttallii, Malacothamnus hallii, Malacothamnus parishii, Malva fasciculata, Malvastrum arcuatum, Malvastrum fasciculatum, Malvastrum fasciculatum var. laxiflorum, Malvastrum hallii, Malvastrum nesioticum, Malvastrum nesioticum var. nuttallii
USDA Symbol: MAFA
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
A usually 4-10 ft. evergreen shrub with long, slender wand-like branches. The branches and shallowly lobed leaves are covered with soft, grayish hairs giving the plant an overall gray-green appearance. In bloom, clusters of pink flowers cover the plant.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Fruit Type: Schizocarp
Size Notes: Up to about 15 feet tall, often shorter.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: PinkBloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul
Distribution
USA: CANative Distribution: S. CA and adjacent Mex.
Native Habitat: Dry slopes & canyon sides below 2500 ft.
Growing Conditions
Light Requirement: Sun , Part ShadeSoil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Dry soils.
Propagation
Commercially Avail: yesFind 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 on display at the following locations:Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR
Web Reference
Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) CalfloraWebref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Malacothamnus fasciculatus in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Malacothamnus fasciculatus in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Malacothamnus fasciculatus
Metadata
Record Modified: 2025-02-13Research By: TWC Staff