Native Plant Database

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Subshrub
Leaf Retention: Semi-evergreen
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Ovate
Leaf Pubescence: Tomentose
Leaf Margin: Serrulate
Leaf Apex: Acute
Leaf Base: Cordate
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Inflorescence: Panicle , Terminal
Fruit Type: Schizocarp
Size Notes: To 1 meter.
Leaf: Broadly ovate, mostly 3-7 cm long, sharply serrate. coarsely stellate. (4).
Flower: in a compact panicle; calyx 6-8 mm long; petals 9-15 mm long; staminal column 3-4 mm long, pallid; styles 5. (4).
Fruit: Schizocarpic. more or less cylindrical, 6-7 mm long, 7-9 mm diameter, coarsely stellate-pubescent; mericarps 5, apically acute, 3-seeded. (4).
Size Class: 1-3 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Orange , Yellow
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep
Bloom Notes: panicles axillary and terminal; flowers numerous and short-pedicelled; calyx lobes lanceolate, acute to acuminate, 6-8 mm. long; petals orange-color, about twice as long as the calyx; (293). Given suitable conditions, may flower anytime throughout the year.

Distribution

USA: AZ , NM , TX
Native Distribution: West Texas, southern New Mexico and southern Arizona and adjacent Mexico.
Native Habitat: On rocky hills, dry slopes and gravelly flats (293). In open arid habitats; 550-900 m (1800-3100 ft) (4).
USDA Native Status: L48 N

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Drought Tolerance: High
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Dry, rocky or gravelly soils.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Useful in its native range as a flowering ornamental.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Larval Host: Larval host of Celotes limpia, Chisos Streaky Skipper in West Texas and northern Mexico. (1193).
Nectar Source: yes
Deer Resistant: High

Bibliography

Bibref 293 - Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas (1979) Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston
Bibref 1193 - The Butterflies of North America: A Natural History and Field Guide (1992) Scott, J.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 4 - Vascular Plants of Arizona in Journal of Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science and Canotia (1992) Canotia

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Abutilon malacum in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Abutilon malacum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Abutilon malacum