Malacothamnus jonesii
Jones's bush mallow
(c) paulexcoff, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Malvaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Malacothamnus jonesii (Jones's bush mallow) is a native California shrub in the Malvaceae family, recognized by . Key features: pale ashy-green leaves, diamond-shaped leaf option, spreads by rhizomes, long bractlets.
Jones's bush mallow is a California native shrub found in the northern Coast Ranges and southern Coast Ranges in open chaparral and foothill woodland at elevations of 250 to 830 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces pink to lavender flowers in spike-like clusters. Growing up to 3.5 meters tall with a spreading habit, the shrub develops dense stellate hairs that completely cover its stems, making the surface nearly invisible without magnification. Its leaves are distinctively round to widely ovate, typically wider than long, with pale ashy-green surfaces and subtle 3 to 5 lobes near the rounded or wedge-shaped base. The plant's dense, star-shaped hairs and distinctive leaf shape make it a distinctive component of chaparral habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species. Key features: pale ashy-green leaves, diamond-shaped leaf option, spreads by rhizomes, long bractlets
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open chaparral in foothill woodland
Elevation: 250-830 m.
California counties: San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Santa Barbara, Yolo
Bloom period
Malacothamnus jonesii blooms May-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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 jonesii native to California?
Yes. Malacothamnus jonesii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Malacothamnus jonesii bloom?
Malacothamnus jonesii blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Malacothamnus jonesii grow?
Malacothamnus jonesii occurs in San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Santa Barbara, Yolo, at elevations of 250-830 m..
What plant family does Malacothamnus jonesii belong to?
Malacothamnus jonesii is in the Malvaceae family, genus Malacothamnus.
Is Malacothamnus jonesii rare or endangered?
Malacothamnus jonesii carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S4.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Malacothamnus jonesii var. gracilis — Huasna bushmallow
- Malacothamnus jonesii var. jonesii — Jones's bushmallow
- Malacothamnus jonesii var. niveus — Fragrant-snow bushmallow
- Malacothamnus lucianus — Santa lucia bushmallow
- Malacothamnus marrubioides — Santa clarita bushmallow
- Malacothamnus mendocinensis — Mendocino bushmallow
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-08
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.