Malacothamnus fasciculatus var. fasciculatus

Southern coastal bushmallow

Malacothamnus fasciculatus — parent species of Malacothamnus fasciculatus var. fasciculatus

Photo: parent species Malacothamnus fasciculatus · Photo by Chez Brungraber

Family: Malvaceae · Type: Shrub · Native

Malacothamnus fasciculatus var. fasciculatus (Southern coastal bushmallow) is a native California shrub in the Malvaceae family, recognized by . Key features: short bractlets, rounded leaf lobes, bright green leaf surfaces.

Southern coastal bushmallow is a California native shrub found in southern coastal ranges, coastal southern California, Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, and desert regions of southern California in early-recovering post-burn woody vegetation at elevations of 0 to 715 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces pale pink to lavender flowers in dense, interrupted spikes. Growing as an upright shrub up to 3 meters tall with occasional rhizomatous spread, it features bright green leaves with rounded lobes and stellate hairs covering both leaf surfaces. Its leaves are typically unlobed or moderately 3 to 5-lobed, with bases ranging from truncate to heart-shaped and surfaces densely covered in star-shaped hairs. The plant's delicate flower clusters and adaptability to post-fire environments make it a distinctive component of southern California's coastal and mountain landscapes.

Identification and appearance

Key characters: 9 sympatric species. Key features: short bractlets, rounded leaf lobes, bright green leaf surfaces

Habitat and range

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

Elevation: 0-715 m

California counties: San Diego, Riverside, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, Ventura, Orange, Merced, Santa Clara, Sutter, Monterey

Outside California: northern Baja California

Bloom period

Malacothamnus fasciculatus var. fasciculatus blooms (Mar)Apr-Jun(Jul).

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 fasciculatus var. fasciculatus native to California?

Yes. Malacothamnus fasciculatus var. fasciculatus is native to California (recorded as native).

When does Malacothamnus fasciculatus var. fasciculatus bloom?

Malacothamnus fasciculatus var. fasciculatus blooms (Mar)Apr-Jun(Jul).

Where in California does Malacothamnus fasciculatus var. fasciculatus grow?

Malacothamnus fasciculatus var. fasciculatus occurs in San Diego, Riverside, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, Ventura, Orange, Merced and other counties, at elevations of 0-715 m.

What plant family does Malacothamnus fasciculatus var. fasciculatus belong to?

Malacothamnus fasciculatus var. fasciculatus is in the Malvaceae family, genus Malacothamnus.

What habitat does Malacothamnus fasciculatus var. fasciculatus grow in?

Malacothamnus fasciculatus var. fasciculatus 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.

All Malacothamnus species · All Malvaceae

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.