Malacothamnus discombobulatus

Discombobulating bushmallow

Family: Malvaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Discombobulating bushmallow is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native shrub found in early-recovering post-burn woody vegetation at elevations of 150 to 710 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces pink to white flowers in narrowly to widely panicle-like clusters. Growing up to 5 meters tall with moderately to densely stellate-hairy stems that occasionally spread by rhizomes, it develops a distinctive branching structure. Its leaves are nearly round to widely ovate, with 3 to 7 rounded or slightly pointed lobes, appearing ashy to bright green on the surface with a paler underside. The shrub produces distinctive flowers with petals up to 2 centimeters long, nestled among lanceolate bracts that can range from green to partially or fully red.

Habitat: Early-recovering post-burn woody vegetation, edges of openings, some plants occasionally persisting into more mature vegetation stages

Bloom period: (May)Jul-Aug(Oct)

Elevation: 150-710 m

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