Eremalche exilis
White mallow
(c) Adam J. Searcy, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Malvaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Eremalche exilis (White mallow) is a native California herb in the Malvaceae family, recognized by prostrate habit and small white flowers.
White mallow is a California native annual found in the San Joaquin Valley, southern Coast Ranges, Channel Islands, San Gabriel Mountains, White and Inyo Mountains, and desert regions at elevations below 1,500 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces white to pale pink-purple flowers approximately 4 to 5.5 millimeters long in leaf axils scattered along the stem. Growing with prostrate to decumbent stems less than 50 centimeters long and covered in fine stellate hairs, it has a delicate spreading habit. Its leaves are generally 1 to 2.5 centimeters wide with 3 to 5 distinctive lobes, the tips of which are either entire or have three small teeth. The fruit develops in segments of 9 to 13 parts, each approximately wedge-shaped with rounded margins.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; prostrate habit and small white flowers are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Desert scrub
Elevation: < 1500 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo, Los Angeles, Kern, Riverside, San Diego, Imperial, Mono, Santa Barbara, Mariposa, San Luis Obispo, Fresno, Mendocino, Alameda, Ventura, Orange, Kings
Outside California: Arizona, Nevada, Utah, northern Baja California
Bloom period
Eremalche exilis blooms Mar-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Alyogyne: Eremalche is a small prostrate annual; Alyogyne is a large upright shrub with much larger flowers.; vs Malva: Eremalche is native with sparse hairs in deserts; Malva is a weedy introduced plant in disturbed areas.; vs Sidalcea: Eremalche is prostrate with symmetric leaves; Sidalcea is upright with palmately lobed leaves.; vs Sphaeralcea: Eremalche is a small green annual; Sphaeralcea is a larger perennial with gray hairs and orange flowers.; vs Chylismia: Eremalche has mallow flowers with fused stamens; Chylismia has 4-petaled evening primrose flowers with 8 stamens.
Frequently asked questions
Is Eremalche exilis native to California?
Yes. Eremalche exilis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Eremalche exilis bloom?
Eremalche exilis blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Eremalche exilis grow?
Eremalche exilis occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, Los Angeles, Kern, Riverside, San Diego, Imperial, Mono and other counties, at elevations of < 1500 m.
What plant family does Eremalche exilis belong to?
Eremalche exilis is in the Malvaceae family, genus Eremalche.
What habitat does Eremalche exilis grow in?
Eremalche exilis grows in Desert scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.