Sphaeralcea

( sfeer - RAL - see - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus includes many flowering perennials that need full sun and little water to do well, making them great candidates for water-wise gardens. They are commonly called Globe Mallows or False Mallows, and the flowers will attract butterflies to your yard. Flowers are shaped like mini-hollyhocks and provide color for accents in borders in hot, dry spots of the garden. These plants are woody at the base, and herbaceous above. Use Globe Mallow to add color to mixed beds and borders, in containers, or as additions to cottage, informal, pollinator, drought-tolerant, or native gardens.

Sphaeralcea Species and Varietals

Spaheralcea is a genus in the plant family Malvaceae and includes between 40 and 60 species. The genus name is derived from the Greek words 'sphaira' (meaning sphere) and 'alkea' (meaning mallow). Globe Mallow growing zones vary depending on the species; for more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Sphaeralcea ambigua (Apricot Mallow, Desert Globemallow)
This species grows well in zones 3 and 7-24, and is native to Utah, Arizona, Mexico, Nevada, and California. It reaches 3-4 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide, with hairy stems. Leaves are grey-green and flowers are pink to orange, though white-flowering forms are available as well. Flowers bloom in summer or fall. This species is best in desert-like climates, and does not like winter wet periods. Varieties include 'Louis Hamilton' (with deep orange-red flowers) and 'Papago Pink' (with pink blooms).

Spaheralcea angustifolia (Copper Globemallow, Narrow-Leaved Globemallow)
These plants are native to the southwestern United States and northern to central Mexico. They prefer desert and plateau habitats, and produce many erect stems. Plants reach just under 10 feet tall when in bloom, and have light grey-green foliage. Flowers are orange with yellow anthers.

Sphaeralcea coccinea (Scarlet Globemallow, Scarlet Mallow, Cowboy's Delight, Prairie Mallow, Red False Mallow)
These plants reach between 4 and 12 inches tall when in bloom, and have grayish-green stems and foliage. Flowers are reddish-orange and saucer-shaped. Flowers bloom from May through the end of summer (sometimes into fall in warmer regions). These are great groundcover plants for erosion prevention, and will spread quickly over a wide area to create more stability in the soil.

Sphaeralcea munroana (Munro's Globemallow, Munro's Desert-Mallow)
This species of Globe Mallow grows well in zones 1-3, 7-10 and 14-24, and is native to the western United State's mountain foothills. Reaching 3 feet tall and 1.5 feet wide, this plant has upright stems and grey-green leaves. Salmon to apricot-colored flowers are borne on 'wands' in the middle of summer and early fall.

Sphaeralcea parvifolia (Small-Leaved Globe-Mallow, Small Leaf Globemallow)
This species is native to the western United States and is commonly used as an ornamental in wildflower, dry, and pollinator gardens. Plants typically reach between 6 and 16 inches tall (at the maximum over three feet). Stems are covered in white to yellow hairs. Flowers are orange and borne on upright spikes.

Caring for Sphaeralcea

Plant Sphaeralcea in a space in the landscape that receives full sun. These plants can take a full 6-8 hours of direct sun each day and still perform well, even in hot climates. They like to be situated in open, exposed spaces and do well on hillsides. Ensure that soil is very well-draining, poor to moderately fertile, and has a pH of between 6.0 and 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. When Globe Mallow is mature, it is considered drought-tolerant, able to get by for most of the year on rainwater alone with supplemental irrigations during extended periods of dry weather. Make sure that substrate does not get soggy, as this will cause rust issues and plant decline.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. Pruning is simple; remove any damaged, diseased, or dead foliage at any time during the growing season, and remove spent flower spikes to neaten up the appearance of plants and encourage reblooms. Old stems can be cut back almost to the ground before spring growth begins to clean up the look of this somewhat wild plant. Every once in a while to maintain good health, Sphaeralcea needs to be divided; a good indicator that it is time to divide your plant is if it has been declining in flower or foliage production. For instructions on how to divide Sphaeralcea plants, see the Propagation section below.

Propagation

Sphaeralcea, or Globe Mallow, can be propagated by division, cutting or seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the division or cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant, especially if you are propagating a hybrid cultivar. To propagate your Globe Mallow, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Sphaeralcea by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
Sphaeralcea seeds can benefit from a period of cold-stratification in order to assist germination. To complete this process, first place seeds in a bag or other sealable container filled with moistened sand or peat moss. Then, place the container in the refrigerator (or similarly cool, dark space) for 2-3 months. The ideal temperature for cold-stratification is around 40 degrees Fahrenheit. After this period has passed, remove seeds from the container.
Get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-6 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Propagating Sphaeralcea by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
In early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 3-4 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new plant.

Propagating Sphaeralcea by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in very early spring (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:

Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the root(s). Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
Start to tease apart the roots with your gloved fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick root section attached.
Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divisions and water thoroughly.
Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout in the next growing season.