Sphaeralcea ambigua aka Apricot Globe Mallow

Sphaeralcea ambigua is a perennial in the mallow family, Malvaceae. Its common names include desert globemallow and apricot mallow. It comes from the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Its range includes Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah. It grows in deserts, dry shrublands, rocky ground, and dry washes. These habitats span a wide range of elevations.

The plant forms upright stems from a woody rootstock. It can make a dense bush with a rounded shape. Reported heights range from about 1.6–3.3 feet [0.5–1 metre]. Virginia Tech gives an upper height of 4 feet [1.2 metres]. PFAF lists a spread of about 1.6 feet [0.5 metre]. The slender stems bear a thick coat of white hairs. Bark ranges from green to brown. The evergreen leaves grow one at a time along the stems. They are round or heart-shaped, with lobes spreading from the base. Both sides have a blue-green hue and a woolly coat. Their surfaces look wrinkled.

Flowers have five petals and measure about 1 inch across. Their colours include red, orange, yellow, and pink. They grow on spikes about 2 feet [0.6 metre] tall. Virginia Tech reports flowers through much of the growing season. Bees pollinate them. The fruit is a round, dry capsule with several parts. It measures about half an inch across. Dense, silky hairs cover its base.

Give this plant sun and soil that drains well. PFAF lists sandy, loamy, and clay soils as suitable. It accepts mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline soil. It can grow in dry or moist ground, but not shade. PFAF places it in USDA zones 6–9. Gardeners grow it as an ornamental for its flowers and form. Its hard seed coat can slow water uptake. PFAF lists seed, softwood cuttings, and division as propagation methods. The same source does not class it as weedy.

Its food value is low, despite records of past use. Reports mention eating seeds and young fruits, and chewing stems. The seeds taste bitter and have shells that resist removal. Flowers have a mild taste but a slimy texture. Fine plant hairs can irritate eyes and lungs. This concern does not establish that the plant is poisonous. Records also describe medicinal uses of roots and leaves. Other uses include hair rinses and adding plant liquid to clay.