Malacothamnus davidsonii

Tujunga bushmallow, davidson's bushmallow

Family: Malvaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Tujunga bushmallow is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native shrub found in southern San Francisco Bay, southern Coastal Ranges, southern California, western Transverse Ranges, and San Gabriel Mountains on slopes and in washes at elevations of 275 to 1,540 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces pink to white flowers in spike-like clusters with petals up to 2 centimeters long. Growing up to 6 meters tall with densely stellate-hairy stems that have a distinctive ashy to bright green appearance, it forms an upright and sometimes spreading shrub. Its leaves are broadly rounded to ovate, with 3 to 7 subtle lobes, having cordate bases and a textured surface covered in branching stellate hairs. The shrub's calyx is 6.5 to 10 millimeters long, with triangular lobes that are green to partially red, creating a distinctive and textured appearance.

Habitat: Slopes, washes

Bloom period: (Apr)Jun-Aug(Feb)

Elevation: 275-1540 m

Bioregions: s SnFrB, SCoRO, SCo, WTR, SnGb.

California counties: Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Riverside, San Mateo, Santa Clara

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