Malvella leprosa
Alkali-mallow, white-weed, White-Weed
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Malvaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Malvella leprosa (Alkali-mallow) is a native California herb in the Malvaceae family, recognized by Specialized for alkaline habitats; unique ecological niche within California mallow family.
Alkali-mallow is a California native perennial herb found in the Great Valley, typically growing in saline valley habitats at elevations below 1,500 meters. Flowering from April to November, this plant produces cream-white to yellow flowers occasionally tinted with rose, with petals 10 to 15 millimeters long. Growing with decumbent stems 10 to 40 centimeters tall, it is densely covered in white stellate hairs that include both bristly and scale-like textures. Its leaves are 1 to 3.5 centimeters wide, kidney-shaped to triangular, with asymmetric bases and toothed, wavy margins that are also densely white-hairy. The fruit is approximately 7 millimeters in diameter, composed of 7 to 10 segments that are net-veined on the sides.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Specialized for alkaline habitats; unique ecological niche within California mallow family
Habitat and range
Habitat: Valleys, generally saline
Elevation: < 1500(2500) m
California counties: Contra Costa, Orange, Lake, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Merced, San Diego, Riverside, Alameda, Mono, Solano, Inyo, Santa Clara, Kern, Colusa, Fresno, Ventura, Stanislaus, Sacramento, San Luis Obispo, Madera, Lassen, Imperial, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Glenn, Monterey, Sutter, Yolo, Kings, Butte, Tehama, San Joaquin, Amador, Siskiyou, San Benito, Napa, Tulare, Sonoma, Santa Cruz
Outside California: to Washington, Idaho, Texas, Mexico, southern South America, Australia (introduced)
Bloom period
Malvella leprosa blooms Apr-Nov.
How to tell it apart
vs Malva: Malvella is prostrate and densely gray-hairy; Malva grows upright and is green to sparsely hairy.; vs Marrubium: Malvella has mallow flowers with fused stamens; Marrubium has tiny mint flowers with separate stamens.; vs Malacothamnus: Malvella is prostrate and mat-forming; Malacothamnus is an upright woody shrub.; vs Pelargonium: Malvella has symmetrical mallow flowers; Pelargonium has irregular flowers with two upper petals different from lower three.; vs Sphaeralcea: Malvella is densely gray-fuzzy and prostrate; Sphaeralcea is upright with sparser hairs and elongated flower clusters.
Frequently asked questions
Is Malvella leprosa native to California?
Yes. Malvella leprosa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Malvella leprosa bloom?
Malvella leprosa blooms Apr-Nov.
Where in California does Malvella leprosa grow?
Malvella leprosa occurs in Contra Costa, Orange, Lake, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Merced, San Diego, Riverside and other counties, at elevations of < 1500(2500) m.
What plant family does Malvella leprosa belong to?
Malvella leprosa is in the Malvaceae family, genus Malvella.
What habitat does Malvella leprosa grow in?
Malvella leprosa grows in Valleys, generally saline.
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.