Malacothamnus involucratus

Carmel valley bushmallow, Carmel Valley Bush-Mallow

Family: Malvaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Carmel valley bushmallow is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native shrub found in the Central Coast and southern Coast Ranges in early-recovering post-burn woody vegetation and edges of openings at elevations of 20 to 680 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces pink to white flowers with delicate stellate-hairy bracts surrounding the blossoms. Growing up to 2 meters tall with a spreading habit via rhizomes, it develops distinctive bright green leaves that are rounded to widely ovate, sometimes subtly 3 to 5-lobed with cordate bases. Its leaves are covered in dense stellate hairs, with the undersides having 2 to 50 times more hair density than the upper surface, creating a soft, textured appearance. In mature stands, this bushmallow occasionally persists in more established vegetation, offering a glimpse of post-fire ecological recovery.

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

Bloom period: (Feb)Apr--May(Jul)

Elevation: 20--680 m

Bioregions: CW (Monterey Co.)

California counties: Monterey, San Luis Obispo

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