Lavatera trimestris
Annual lavatera, rose mallow, Rose Mallow
(c) zebedeugalinha, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Malvaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Lavatera trimestris (Annual lavatera) is a non-native California herb in the Malvaceae family, recognized by . Key features: herbaceous habit, ~12 fruit segments with disk-like covering.
Annual lavatera is a naturalized plant found in western Southern California coastal areas and western Transverse Ranges, including Lauro Canyon in Santa Barbara County, growing near water edges and disturbed places at elevations below 300 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces pink to lavender flowers with large, showy petals 2 to 5 centimeters long. Growing with erect stems 0.5 to 1 meter tall that are generally bristly, it has a distinctive upright habit. Its lower leaves are 3 to 12 centimeters wide, rounded to heart-shaped with crenate edges, while upper leaves are smaller with 3 to 7 shallow lobes that have acute to obtuse tips. The fruit develops with approximately 12 ridged segments covered by a disk-like expansion from the central axis.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species. Key features: herbaceous habit, ~12 fruit segments with disk-like covering
Habitat and range
Habitat: Water edge, disturbed places
Elevation: < 300 m
Outside California: native to Mediterranean, widely cultivated
Bloom period
Lavatera trimestris blooms May-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Sidalcea: Lavatera has 3 bracts fused halfway below flower; Sidalcea has no bract ring below flower.; vs Alcea: Lavatera has 3 bracts fused halfway; Alcea has 5-11 bracts and much larger flowers (>6 cm).; vs Malva: Lavatera has bracts fused halfway and seeds separate easily; Malva has free bracts and seeds firmly enclosed.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lavatera trimestris native to California?
No. Lavatera trimestris is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Lavatera trimestris bloom?
Lavatera trimestris blooms May-Jun.
What plant family does Lavatera trimestris belong to?
Lavatera trimestris is in the Malvaceae family, genus Lavatera.
What habitat does Lavatera trimestris grow in?
Lavatera trimestris grows in Water edge, disturbed places.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.