Sphaeralcea ambigua var. ambigua
Apricot mallow
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Malvaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Sphaeralcea ambigua var. ambigua (Apricot mallow) is a native California subshrub in the Malvaceae family, recognized by petal color and leaf texture.
Apricot mallow is a California native shrub found in southern Sierra Nevada and desert regions in desert scrub and pinyon-juniper woodland at elevations of 150 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from February to July, this plant produces stunning red-orange to apricot flowers with yellow-purple anthers clustered in dense inflorescences. Growing with distinctive branching habit and reaching 30 to 90 centimeters tall, the shrub develops a woody base with multiple ascending stems. Its leaves are not markedly wrinkled, with rounded to somewhat triangular blades that provide a soft texture to the plant's overall appearance. The fruit develops with a dehiscent segment covering approximately 60 percent of its surface, contributing to the plant's distinctive reproductive strategy.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 7 species; distinguished by petal color and leaf texture
Habitat and range
Habitat: Desert scrub; pinyon/juniper woodland
Elevation: 150-2500 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo, Kern, Riverside, Mono, Imperial, San Diego, Tulare, Sierra, Los Angeles, Mariposa
Bloom period
Sphaeralcea ambigua var. ambigua blooms Feb-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Malacothamnus: Sphaeralcea flowers face outward in open panicles; Malacothamnus flowers are tucked closer to stems in denser clusters.; vs Abutilon: Sphaeralcea has 1-3 small bracts (even if fallen); Abutilon completely lacks any bracts beneath flowers.; vs Malva: Sphaeralcea has salmon-orange flowers and net-veined fruit base; Malva has pink-purple flowers and smooth fruits throughout.; vs Hibiscus: Sphaeralcea has small flowers and inconspicuous bracts; Hibiscus has very large flowers and prominent persistent bracts.; vs Eriogonum: Sphaeralcea has typical mallow flowers with fused stamen column; Eriogonum has tiny flowers in heads with papery bracts.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sphaeralcea ambigua var. ambigua native to California?
Yes. Sphaeralcea ambigua var. ambigua is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sphaeralcea ambigua var. ambigua bloom?
Sphaeralcea ambigua var. ambigua blooms Feb-Jul.
Where in California does Sphaeralcea ambigua var. ambigua grow?
Sphaeralcea ambigua var. ambigua occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, Kern, Riverside, Mono, Imperial, San Diego, Tulare and other counties, at elevations of 150-2500 m.
What plant family does Sphaeralcea ambigua var. ambigua belong to?
Sphaeralcea ambigua var. ambigua is in the Malvaceae family, genus Sphaeralcea.
What habitat does Sphaeralcea ambigua var. ambigua grow in?
Sphaeralcea ambigua var. ambigua grows in Desert scrub; pinyon/juniper woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Sphaeralcea ambigua var. rosacea — Parish mallow
- Sphaeralcea ambigua var. rugosa — Roughleaf apricot mallow
- Sphaeralcea angustifolia — Narrow-leaved globemallow
- Sphaeralcea coulteri — Coulter's globemallow
- Sphaeralcea emoryi var. emoryi — Emory's globemallow
- Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia — Gooseberry-leaved globemallow
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.