Sphaeralcea fendleri venusta var. - Desert Mallow

Description

One of our showiest native shrubs, the Desert Mallow is covered with beautiful peach colored flowers through late spring and summer. As its name would suggest, it does not like coastal conditions, so it would be a much better choice for a Palo Alto or East Bay garden than San Francisco or Santa Cruz. Desert Mallow demands good drainage and no water after establishment, and a hard pruning every fall to prevent it from becoming leggy. It will reach 4-6 feet tall and wide.