Sphaeralcea coulteri
Coulter's globemallow
(c) Alan Rockefeller, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alan Rockefeller · licence
Family: Malvaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Sphaeralcea coulteri (Coulter's globemallow) is a native California subshrub in the Malvaceae family, recognized by unique annual habit among perennial shrubs.
Coulter's globemallow is a native annual found in southern Desert of Sonora in dry, sandy places at elevations below 300 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces salmon-orange flowers less than 11 millimeters long, creating delicate raceme-like clusters. Growing with sprawling to erect slender stems 15 to 150 centimeters tall and covered with few long, soft hairs, it develops distinctive gray-green leaves. Its leaves are approximately triangular, 15 to 45 millimeters long, with 3 to 5 lobes and a heart-shaped or truncate base, often appearing coarsely toothed. The fruit consists of about 15 segments, each 1.5 to 2 millimeters wide with a small dehiscent portion projecting inward.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 6 species; unique annual habit among perennial shrubs
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Dry, sandy places
Elevation: < 300 m
California counties: Imperial
Outside California: Arizona, Mexico
Bloom period
Sphaeralcea coulteri blooms Mar-May.
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 coulteri native to California?
Yes. Sphaeralcea coulteri is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sphaeralcea coulteri bloom?
Sphaeralcea coulteri blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Sphaeralcea coulteri grow?
Sphaeralcea coulteri occurs in Imperial, at elevations of < 300 m.
What plant family does Sphaeralcea coulteri belong to?
Sphaeralcea coulteri is in the Malvaceae family, genus Sphaeralcea.
What habitat does Sphaeralcea coulteri grow in?
Sphaeralcea coulteri grows in Uncommon. Dry, sandy 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.