Malva assurgentiflora subsp. assurgentiflora
Northern island mallow
(c) Bri Weldon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Malvaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1
Malva assurgentiflora subsp. assurgentiflora (Northern island mallow) is a native California shrub in the Malvaceae family, recognized by Native island shrub; leaves bicolored (white-woolly beneath); petal tips entire; filament tube hairy.
Northern island mallow is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native shrub found in coastal bluff habitats at elevations below 400 meters. Flowering throughout the year, this plant produces purple or pink flowers with entire petal tips in compact clusters. Growing with a spreading, multi-branched form to approximately 1 to 2 meters tall, it develops woody stems with a distinctive branching pattern. Its leaves are uniquely bicolored, with white, densely stellate-hairy undersides and green to grayish-green upper surfaces that are sparsely to moderately stellate-hairy. The shrub creates a distinctive visual texture with its complex leaf coloration and continuous flowering cycle.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Native island shrub; leaves bicolored (white-woolly beneath); petal tips entire; filament tube hairy
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal bluffs
Elevation: < 400 m
Outside California: naturalized Mexico, South America, Australia, New Zealand
Bloom period
Malva assurgentiflora subsp. assurgentiflora blooms All year.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1
How to tell it apart
vs Pelargonium: Malva has symmetrical bowl-shaped flowers; Pelargonium has irregular flowers with two upper petals distinct from three lower.; vs Sidalcea: Malva has 3 bracts forming collar below flower; Sidalcea has no bract ring (or just 1-3 tiny bracts).; vs Hibiscus: Malva has small flowers with 3 bracts; Hibiscus has large showy flowers with many fused bracts.; vs Alcea: Malva has smaller flowers (<6 cm) with 3 bracts; Alcea has huge flowers (>6 cm) with 5-11 bracts.; vs Malvella: Malva is upright and green; Malvella is prostrate forming gray-fuzzy ground mats.
Frequently asked questions
Is Malva assurgentiflora subsp. assurgentiflora native to California?
Yes. Malva assurgentiflora subsp. assurgentiflora is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Malva assurgentiflora subsp. assurgentiflora bloom?
Malva assurgentiflora subsp. assurgentiflora blooms All year.
What plant family does Malva assurgentiflora subsp. assurgentiflora belong to?
Malva assurgentiflora subsp. assurgentiflora is in the Malvaceae family, genus Malva.
Is Malva assurgentiflora subsp. assurgentiflora rare or endangered?
Malva assurgentiflora subsp. assurgentiflora carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S1.
What habitat does Malva assurgentiflora subsp. assurgentiflora grow in?
Malva assurgentiflora subsp. assurgentiflora grows in Coastal bluffs.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.