Desert Globe Mallow, also known as Apricot Mallow, is a flowering plant native to desert areas in the American West and Southwest, along with parts of Baja and Sonora. It is highly adapted to these harsh environments and needs very little water. Despite this desert-adaptation, this mallow blooms spectacularly from March until November, sending up columns studded with bright orange flowers that seem to almost glow against the gray-green foliage. In the wild, these flowers have a special relationship with the Globe Mallow Bee, a native species of bee that lives primarily on the nectar and pollen of this plant alone.
For gardeners in California, the Desert Globe mallow is an excellent low-water choice, and can be included in xeriscape plantings that (once established) require no additional irrigation.
Growth Form: bush up to 3’
Light: full sun to part shade
Water: very drought tolerant once established
Soil: sandy or well-draining soils
Hardiness: USDA zones 9-11, Sunset Zones 3, 7-24.
Type: Perennial