Rank Species | Genus Abutilon Higher classification Indian mallow | |
 | ||
Similar Indian mallow, Mallows, Abutilon incanum, Abutilon eremitopetalum, Abutilon parvulum | ||
Bees loving indian mallow abutilon palmeri
Abutilon palmeri, with the common names Palmer's abutilon, superstition mallow, and Palmer's Indian mallow,) is a species of Abutilon native the Southwestern United States and Northwestern Mexico.
Contents
The plant is found in the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, and in Southern California in the Sonoran Colorado Desert and adjacent eastern foothill ecotones of the Peninsular Ranges.
Description
Abutilon palmeri is a dense, round shrub growing 3–8 feet (0.91–2.44 m) high by 2–5 feet (0.61–1.52 m) wide. Branch and stem parts are also pubescent with red-brown coloring to twigs; bark ranging green to brown.
The foliage is characterised by velvety heart-shaped (nearly round to cordate) leaves forming as alternates at meristems. The leaves are serrate, remarkable for dense woolly texture; pubescent; maintains velvety texture and bluish gray-green above and below.
The flowers are yellow (5 petals; yellow to orange) and cup-shaped; approximately one inch in size. Plant blooms for most of summer.
The plant produces a small fruit (1/2 inch approximate diameter); the fruit is round, capsular and multi-parted and covered with silky pubescence similar to foliage.
Cultivation
Abutilon palmeri is cultivated as an ornamental plant by specialty nurseries, for planting in native plant, water conserving, and wildlife gardens, and in natural landscaping projects in warm climates.