Malacothamnus densiflorus
Many-flowered bush mallow
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Malvaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Malacothamnus densiflorus (Many-flowered bush mallow) is a native California shrub in the Malvaceae family, recognized by long bractlets and calyx vein outgrowths.
Many-flowered bush mallow is a California native shrub found in southern California, San Bernardino Mountains, Peninsular Ranges, and desert regions of southern California in chaparral slopes at elevations of 100 to 1,100 meters. Flowering from May to July and September to October, this plant produces pink to white flowers in dense, interrupted spikes with individual blossoms up to 2.5 centimeters long. Growing up to 2.5 meters tall with a potentially spreading habit via rhizomes, it features sparsely to moderately stellate-hairy stems where the stem surface remains partially visible through the hair coverage. Its leaf blades are roughly round to widely ovate, bright green on top and paler underneath, sometimes unlobed or with 3 to 5 subtle rounded lobes, and characterized by a heart-shaped or obtuse base. The plant's flowers emerge from linear or awl-shaped bracts, with calyces ranging from 8 to 16 millimeters long and displaying triangular to ovate lobes with acuminate tips.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species; key features are long bractlets and calyx vein outgrowths
Habitat and range
Habitat: Chaparral slopes
Elevation: 100-1100 m.
California counties: Riverside, San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, San Bernardino
Outside California: northern Baja California.
Bloom period
Malacothamnus densiflorus blooms May-Jul, Sep-Oct.
How to tell it apart
vs Sphaeralcea: Malacothamnus has flowers clustered in leaf axils; Sphaeralcea has flowers in an elongated spike-like arrangement.; vs Sidalcea: Malacothamnus is a woody shrub in chaparral; Sidalcea is herbaceous in meadows and moist areas.; vs Malva: Malacothamnus is a native chaparral shrub with axillary clusters; Malva is a weedy herb with flowers along stems.; vs Ribes: Malacothamnus has mallow flowers with fused stamens; Ribes has tubular flowers and produces berries.; vs Brickellia: Malacothamnus has 5-petaled mallow flowers; Brickellia has fuzzy composite flower heads without petals.
Frequently asked questions
Is Malacothamnus densiflorus native to California?
Yes. Malacothamnus densiflorus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Malacothamnus densiflorus bloom?
Malacothamnus densiflorus blooms May-Jul, Sep-Oct.
Where in California does Malacothamnus densiflorus grow?
Malacothamnus densiflorus occurs in Riverside, San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, San Bernardino, at elevations of 100-1100 m..
What plant family does Malacothamnus densiflorus belong to?
Malacothamnus densiflorus is in the Malvaceae family, genus Malacothamnus.
What habitat does Malacothamnus densiflorus grow in?
Malacothamnus densiflorus grows in Chaparral slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Malacothamnus densiflorus var. densiflorus — Few-rayed bushmallow
- Malacothamnus densiflorus var. viscidus — Emerald unicorn bushmallow
- Malacothamnus discombobulatus — Discombobulating bushmallow
- Malacothamnus eastwoodiae — Alice's lovely bushmallow
- Malacothamnus enigmaticus — Enigmatic bushmallow
- Malacothamnus fasciculatus — Chaparral mallow
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.