Native Plant of the Month: Bushmallow
California is home to a vast array of endemic plants—plants found nowhere else on Earth—including our magnificent redwoods and iconic manzanitas. But have you heard about the beautiful bushmallows?
About Bushmallow
Bushmallows (genus Malacothamnus) are a diverse group of shrubs, with more than 20 species across California and Baja California. All species form splendid clusters of pink flowers in the spring and summer, which attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Wooly hairs cover their leaves and stems, giving them a soft, fuzzy appearance.
Bushmallows sprout after fires and are relatively short-lived, typically surviving anywhere from 3 to 20 years before giving way to other species. But their seeds can stay in the ground for decades, patiently waiting for the next fire to pass through.
About Arcuate Bushmallow
One of our local bushmallow varieties is the arcuate bushmallow (Malacothamnus arcuatus var. arcuatus), also known as chaparral mallow or western bewildering bushmallow. This species is endemic to the Santa Cruz mountains, meaning it only grows there and is found nowhere else on the planet. It can grow up to 6 or 7 feet tall, and enjoys sunny areas with good soil drainage. Once established, this bushmallow requires little to no supplemental irrigation.
Arcuate bushmallow blooms from April through July. As fall arrives, it may lose its leaves and go dormant. If your bushmallow starts to look leggy and raggedy, you can prune it back in late summer or fall to encourage more compact and vibrant growth next spring.
We encourage you to plant bushmallows grown from seeds or cuttings sourced from your local region, especially if you live in or near a natural area. Introducing other types of bushmallow may lead to hybridization with existing populations and the eventual loss of unique bushmallow varieties.
Where to find Bushmallow and Other Native Plants
Our nursery grows native plants including coffeeberry using seeds and cuttings carefully sourced from local watersheds. See our latest inventory for online sales here:
Our nursery is thrilled to be a partner of Bloom! California. Along with over 100 other nurseries around the state, our nursery is offering 11 select native plant groups that bring California’s unique beauty into your garden, create pollinator habitat, restore nature in the urban landscape, and support water conservation. Learn more at bloomcalifornia.org!
References
Malacothamnus (Keir Morse)
Malacothamnus, Volume 3 (Keir Morse)
Bush-mallows - the genus Malacothamnus (Keir Morse, YouTube)
Malacothamnus arcuatus (CA Native Plant Society, Santa Clara Valley chapter)
Chaparral mallow (Calscape)
By Stanley Gu, Ecologist
