Malva nicaeensis
Bull mallow
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Family: Malvaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Malva nicaeensis (Bull mallow) is a non-native California herb in the Malvaceae family, recognized by strongly net-veined-pitted fruit backs.
Bull mallow is a naturalized annual herb found in the California Floristic Province in disturbed places at elevations below 1,200 meters. Flowering from February to July, this plant produces pink to blue-violet flowers 5 to 12 millimeters long that turn blue when dry. Growing with decumbent or ascending stems 20 to 60 centimeters tall and sparsely covered in stellate hairs, it has a sprawling growth habit. Its round to kidney-shaped leaves are 3 to 12 centimeters wide with 5 to 7 shallow, somewhat pointed lobes and slightly wavy edges. The fruit consists of 7 to 10 segments with strongly net-veined and pitted surfaces.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 8 species; distinguished by strongly net-veined-pitted fruit backs
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed places
Elevation: < 1200 m
California counties: Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Los Angeles, Ventura, Alameda, San Francisco, Butte, San Benito, San Mateo, San Joaquin, Monterey, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Kern, Contra Costa, Amador, Yolo, Orange, Riverside, Sonoma, San Diego, El Dorado, Lake, Sutter, Sacramento, Solano, Kings, Placer, Tehama, Glenn, Marin, Yuba, Humboldt, Napa, Stanislaus, Colusa, Mendocino, Del Norte, Fresno, Santa Cruz, Mariposa
Outside California: native to Europe, Asia Minor, Mediterranean, naturalized elsewhere, especially Mexico
Bloom period
Malva nicaeensis blooms Feb-Jul.
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 nicaeensis native to California?
No. Malva nicaeensis is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Malva nicaeensis bloom?
Malva nicaeensis blooms Feb-Jul.
Where in California does Malva nicaeensis grow?
Malva nicaeensis occurs in Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Los Angeles, Ventura, Alameda, San Francisco, Butte, San Benito and other counties, at elevations of < 1200 m.
What plant family does Malva nicaeensis belong to?
Malva nicaeensis is in the Malvaceae family, genus Malva.
What habitat does Malva nicaeensis grow in?
Malva nicaeensis grows in Disturbed places.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
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.