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Richardson, Charmaine

Abutilon incanum

Abutilon incanum (Link) Sweet

Pelotazo, Indian Mallow, Shrubby Indian Mallow

Malvaceae (Mallow Family)

Synonym(s): Abutilon incanum ssp. incanum, Abutilon incanum ssp. pringlei, Abutilon pringlei

USDA Symbol: abin

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), HI (N)

From the Image Gallery

41 photo(s) available in 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
Inflorescence: Axillary
Fruit Type: Schizocarp
Size Notes: Up to about 6 feet tall.

Bloom Information

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

Distribution

USA: AR , AZ , CO , HI , NM , OK , TX
Native Distribution: In Texas, ranges from the Edwards Plateau to West Texas.
Native Habitat: Dry, rocky open woodlands and prairies.

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)

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 on display at the following locations:

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

1 specimen(s) available in the Digital Herbarium

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-515 Collected 2003-07-08 in Travis County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

1 collection(s) available in the Wildflower Center Seed Bank

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

Web Reference

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-04-13
Research By: TWC Staff, MWJ

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