Sphaeralcea ambigua var. rugosa
Roughleaf apricot mallow, Roughleaf Apricot Mallow
Photo: parent species Sphaeralcea ambigua · (c) Tim Messick, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Malvaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Sphaeralcea ambigua var. rugosa (Roughleaf apricot mallow) is a native California subshrub in the Malvaceae family, recognized by distinctive wrinkled leaves and dense inflorescence.
Roughleaf apricot mallow is a California native shrub found in desert regions, particularly in desert scrub habitats at elevations of 150 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from March to September, this plant produces vibrant red-orange flowers in dense panicle clusters with yellow anthers. Growing with a distinctive wrinkled leaf texture, the shrub develops with upright branching that creates a robust desert form. Its leaves are markedly wrinkled on the undersides, giving the plant a distinctive textural appearance. The fruit develops with a dehiscent portion covering approximately 75% of each segment, contributing to the plant's reproductive strategy.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 7 species; distinctive wrinkled leaves and dense inflorescence
Habitat and range
Habitat: Desert scrub
Elevation: 150-2500 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Riverside, Inyo, San Diego, Kern, Los Angeles, Imperial, Mono
Bloom period
Sphaeralcea ambigua var. rugosa blooms Mar-Sep.
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. rugosa native to California?
Yes. Sphaeralcea ambigua var. rugosa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sphaeralcea ambigua var. rugosa bloom?
Sphaeralcea ambigua var. rugosa blooms Mar-Sep.
Where in California does Sphaeralcea ambigua var. rugosa grow?
Sphaeralcea ambigua var. rugosa occurs in San Bernardino, Riverside, Inyo, San Diego, Kern, Los Angeles, Imperial, Mono, at elevations of 150-2500 m.
What plant family does Sphaeralcea ambigua var. rugosa belong to?
Sphaeralcea ambigua var. rugosa is in the Malvaceae family, genus Sphaeralcea.
What habitat does Sphaeralcea ambigua var. rugosa grow in?
Sphaeralcea ambigua var. rugosa grows in Desert scrub.
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.