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Desert Globe Mallow

Sphaeralcea ambigua

true

1 gallon; 3 gallon

Desert Globe Mallow

In stock

3’x3’

Sizes:

Globe Mallow – Sphaeralcea ambigua
Also known as: Desert Mallow; Apricot Mallow; Desert Globemallow

Globe Mallow is a native perennial subshrub found throughout the Colorado and Mojave deserts and the lower Sonoran regions. It has a relaxed, sprawling form and pairs beautifully with other desert species in naturalistic gardens. While the most common flower color is a soft apricot-orange, natural variations include pink, red, white, and lavender. It typically blooms from late winter through spring, with some reblooming in the fall.

The foliage is small, grayish-green, and covered in fine hairs that can cause skin irritation. Wear gloves and long sleeves when handling. After flowering, it may become rangy but can be cut back to about 6 inches tall in early fall to encourage dense new growth. This plant thrives in full sun, rocky or sandy soils, and requires very little supplemental water once established.

Globe Mallow is extremely drought-tolerant and is valuable for pollinator gardens, restoration work, and low-water-use landscapes in the Southwest.

Wildlife Value
Host Plant: West Coast Lady (Vanessa annabella); Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui); Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus); White Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius albescens); Small Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius albezens); Northern White-Skipper (Heliopetes ericetorum)
Nectar Source:
Monarch (Danaus plexippus); Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui); West Coast Lady (Vanessa annabella); Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus); native bees and generalist pollinators
Bird Resources: Nesting Material; Shelter
Bird Species: Black-throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata); Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus); Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria)

Plant Care

Native region:

Local Native; Mojave Desert

Water needs:

Low

Exposure:

Full Sun; Reflected Heat

Mature size:

3’x3’

Growth rate:

Fast

Flower color:

Mostly orange, but also White, Pink, Red and Lavender

Flower season:

Spring; Winter

Pruning:

After flowering to promote growth

Cold Hardiness:

15 Degrees

Nectar-producing:

Yes

Attracts pollinators:

Yes

Nighttime pollinators:

Yes

Butterflies or Moths:

Yes

Monarchs:

Yes

Larval host:

Yes

Bees:

Yes

Bats:

Yes

Birds:

Yes

Nest site:

Yes

Nest materials:

Yes

Rabbit-resistant:

Tortoises:

Yes

Growing Plants in the Desert — Important Information

The information presented here is, to the best of my knowledge, accurate and based on reliable research, personal experience in my own garden, observations from other gardens I’ve visited, and time spent studying plants in their native habitats. I always welcome your feedback and experiences to help me continue educating others!

Cacti:
In my experience, cacti are much happier in filtered shade here in the low desert of the Coachella Valley. Their colors are more vibrant and they tend to bloom more profusely, especially the non-native varieties. If you look closely at how our native barrel cactus and beavertail prickly pear grow in the wild, you’ll often find them tucked among rocks or beneath the shelter of creosote and other shrubs.

⚠️ A note of caution: Cacti and succulents are often illegally collected from the wild, which not only damages plant populations but also disturbs entire ecosystems. In some cases, wild populations of cacti have even gone extinct because of this practice. When purchasing these plants, always be sure they’ve been legally obtained. Look for nursery-grown stock or plants with a native plant certification, and keep that documentation for your records.

Light Requirements:
In our desert (Sonoran/Colorado), “full sun” doesn’t always mean what you might think. Many so-called full-sun plants benefit from and actually appreciate some late-afternoon filtered light—especially during the intense summer months.