Malacothamnus densiflorus var. viscidus
Emerald unicorn bushmallow
Photo: parent species Malacothamnus densiflorus · Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Malvaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Malacothamnus densiflorus var. viscidus (Emerald unicorn bushmallow) is a native California shrub in the Malvaceae family, recognized by NONE sympatric - geographically isolated. Key features: rancid-smelling leaves, prominent glandular hairs, spreads by rhizomes.
Emerald unicorn bushmallow is a California native shrub found in early-recovering post-burn woody vegetation and edges of openings at elevations of 75 to 940 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces pale flowers with petals up to about 2 centimeters long, nestled in dense interrupted spikes. Growing as a spreading shrub up to 1.5 meters tall with rhizomes, it develops branches covered in stellate hairs with short branches typically 0.2 to 0.6 millimeters long. Its leaves are sometimes rancid-smelling, moderately 3 to 5-lobed with heart-shaped bases, and covered in dense stellate hairs that are more abundant on the leaf undersides. The plant's bracts are linear or awl-shaped, ranging from 3 to 15 millimeters long, which subtend its distinctive flower clusters.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: NONE sympatric - geographically isolated. Key features: rancid-smelling leaves, prominent glandular hairs, spreads by rhizomes
Habitat and range
Habitat: Early-recovering post-burn woody vegetation, edges of openings, some plants occasionally persisting into more mature vegetation stages
Elevation: 75-940 m
Outside California: northern Baja California
Bloom period
Malacothamnus densiflorus var. viscidus blooms (Feb)Apr-May(Jun).
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 var. viscidus native to California?
Yes. Malacothamnus densiflorus var. viscidus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Malacothamnus densiflorus var. viscidus bloom?
Malacothamnus densiflorus var. viscidus blooms (Feb)Apr-May(Jun).
What plant family does Malacothamnus densiflorus var. viscidus belong to?
Malacothamnus densiflorus var. viscidus is in the Malvaceae family, genus Malacothamnus.
What habitat does Malacothamnus densiflorus var. viscidus grow in?
Malacothamnus densiflorus var. viscidus grows in Early-recovering post-burn woody vegetation, edges of openings, some plants occasionally persisting into more mature vegetation stages.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Malacothamnus discombobulatus — Discombobulating bushmallow
- Malacothamnus eastwoodiae — Alice's lovely bushmallow
- Malacothamnus enigmaticus — Enigmatic bushmallow
- Malacothamnus fasciculatus — Chaparral mallow
- Malacothamnus fasciculatus var. catalinensis — Santa catalina island bushmallow
- Malacothamnus fasciculatus var. fasciculatus — Southern coastal bushmallow
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.