Malacothamnus lucianus

Santa lucia bushmallow, arroyo seco bushmallow

Family: Malvaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Santa lucia 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 0 to 1,160 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces pink to white flowers in dense, head-like clusters with petals up to 3 centimeters long. Growing up to 5 meters tall with a spreading, rhizomatous habit, it develops branches with distinctive stellate hairs that create a softly textured appearance. Its leaves are round to widely ovate, bright green on top and paler underneath, with 3 to 7 rounded or slightly acute lobes that sometimes emit a rancid odor. The shrub's branches and leaf surfaces are covered in fine, branching stellate hairs, giving it a delicate and intricate texture.

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

Bloom period: (Mar)Apr-Jun(Aug)

Elevation: 0-1160 m

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