Malacothamnus nuttallii
Ojai bushmallow
(c) George Williams, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Malvaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Malacothamnus nuttallii (Ojai bushmallow) is a native California shrub in the Malvaceae family, recognized by leaf color and panicle inflorescence.
Ojai bushmallow is a California native shrub found in San Francisco Bay, southern Coastal Range, and Western Transverse Ranges in early-recovering post-burn woody vegetation at elevations of 0 to 1,365 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces pink to white flowers with petals up to 2 centimeters long, growing in narrowly to widely panicle-like clusters. Growing as a spreading shrub up to 6 meters tall, it develops dense stellate-hairy stems that completely obscure the stem surface without magnification. Its leaves are roughly round to widely ovate, generally moderately 3 to 7-lobed with acute or rounded lobes, featuring pale ashy to light-green surfaces with distinctive stellate hair coverage. The shrub spreads by rhizomes and often persists in recovering woodland areas, creating distinctive patches of dense, soft-textured vegetation.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 18 sympatric species; distinguished by leaf color and panicle inflorescence
Habitat and range
Habitat: Early-recovering post-burn woody vegetation, edges of openings, some plants occasionally persisting into more mature vegetation stages
Elevation: 0-1365 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Santa Clara
Bloom period
Malacothamnus nuttallii blooms (May)Jun-Aug(Sep).
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 nuttallii native to California?
Yes. Malacothamnus nuttallii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Malacothamnus nuttallii bloom?
Malacothamnus nuttallii blooms (May)Jun-Aug(Sep).
Where in California does Malacothamnus nuttallii grow?
Malacothamnus nuttallii occurs in San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Santa Clara, at elevations of 0-1365 m.
What plant family does Malacothamnus nuttallii belong to?
Malacothamnus nuttallii is in the Malvaceae family, genus Malacothamnus.
What habitat does Malacothamnus nuttallii grow in?
Malacothamnus nuttallii 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.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.