Fremontodendron mexicanum

Mexican flannelbush

Family: Malvaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered

Mexican flannelbush is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native shrub found in the Peninsular Ranges (excluding San Jacinto Mountains) in chaparral at elevations of 10 to 716 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces large, bright orange to orange-red flowers up to 84 millimeters wide with distinctive red coloration near the flower bases. Growing erect with an upright habit reaching 1.5 to 7 meters tall, the shrub develops an unbranched form near the ground. Its leaves are thick-leathery with palmately lobed blades 2.5 to 8 centimeters long, featuring a deeply heart-shaped base and petioles 0.8 to 4.5 centimeters long. The plant produces glossy black seeds with an aril-like structure, giving it a distinctive appearance in its native chaparral habitat.

Habitat: Chaparral

Bloom period: Mar-Jun

Elevation: 10-716 m

Bioregions: PR (exc SnJt)

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.