Malacothamnus jonesii var. jonesii

Jones's bushmallow

Family: Malvaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Jones's bushmallow is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native shrub found in early-recovering post-burn woody vegetation and edges of openings at elevations of 175 to 510 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces pink to lavender flowers clustered in spike-like inflorescences. Growing up to 3 meters tall with distinctive stellate hairs covering its branches, it forms a dense, rounded shrub with multiple stems. Its leaves are broadly ovate or diamond-shaped, mostly unlobed or with subtle three-lobed edges, covered in star-shaped hairs that are slightly denser on the leaf undersides. The shrub's unique ability to persist in recovering burn areas and its soft, hair-covered appearance make it a notable component of post-fire plant communities.

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

Bloom period: (Mar)Apr-May

Elevation: 175-510 m

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