Globemallow Colors ,Wildlands Restoration

Sphaeralcea ambigua.

Desert globemallow, generally orange in flower color, occurs from Tucson northward about 70 miles in a variety of pinks, purples, whites, and the occasional scarlet red. The species name is derived from this ambiguity of flower color.
The multicolored plants are smaller, the leaves more fine than the rather coarse orange desert globemallow.
Beside the beauty, desert tortoises favor globemallow as food. This multi-stemmed mallow is a good source of pollen and nectar for honey bees.
Plants are usually 2-4 feet tall with blooms in shades of pink and lavender. Plant in autumn to early spring.