Malacothamnus sp.
Bushmallow, Bush-Mallow
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Malvaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Malacothamnus sp. (Bushmallow) is a native California shrub in the Malvaceae family.
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 sp. native to California?
Yes. Malacothamnus sp. is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Malacothamnus sp. belong to?
Malacothamnus sp. is in the Malvaceae family, genus Malacothamnus.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Malacothamnus abbottii — Abbott's bushmallow
- Malacothamnus aboriginum — Indian valley bushmallow
- Malacothamnus arcuatus — Bewildering bushmallow
- Malacothamnus arcuatus var. arcuatus — Western bewildering bushmallow
- Malacothamnus arcuatus var. elmeri — Eastern bewildering bushmallow
- Malacothamnus astrotentaculatus — Starry-tentacled bushmallow
- Malva arborea — Tree mallow
- Malva assurgentiflora — Island mallow
- Malva assurgentiflora subsp. assurgentiflora — Northern island mallow
- Malva assurgentiflora subsp. glabra — Southern island mallow
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.