Globe mallow is a super-resilient shrub that comes in a rainbow assortment of colors. Here’s everything you need to know about planting and caring for this southwest desert native.
Globe mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua) is a medium size, evergreen shrub that’s native to some parts of the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts.
It has small gray leaves and is covered with flowers in the spring that are usually orange, but also comes in a rainbow of colors including white, lavender, magenta, and various shades of pink and red.
This is an extremely resilient plant that can take whatever nature dishes out including extreme heat, cold, drought, and wind. It’s often found growing alongside some of the other toughest desert shrubs such as creosote and brittlebush.
In the spring, it might catch your eye growing along roadsides and in median strips. It’s so hardy, it’s been used to revegetate abandoned mines. In its native environment, these plants survive on as little as 2” of annual rainfall.
Globe mallow is an extremely low-maintenance plant. Once established, it needs minimal irrigation. It requires almost no pruning and produces no obvious litter.
When in bloom, globe mallow attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies.
Why I Like This Plant
- Flowers profusely in the spring
- Comes in a wide variety of striking colors
- Takes extreme heat and cold in its stride
- Low maintenance, needs little water, rarely needs pruning
- Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies
- No thorns and low litter
Fun Fact!
The Arizona Game & Fish Department lists globemallow
as a “favored native plant” for rescued desert tortoises.
Things to Watch Out For
Plants can definitely get a little raggedly looking as summer progresses.
Its leaves are covered in tiny hairs that some people find irritating. They are especially irritating if you get them in your eyes, hence globe mallow’s alternative names of sore-eye poppies or pink-eye poppies.
Optimal Growing Conditions
If you’re thinking of adding a globe mallow to your garden, you need to find a suitable place that will keep your plant healthy and looking good… while minimizing maintenance for you.
Here are the key factors to keep in mind.
Temperature
Globe mallow should be planted in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 – 11. It is extremely heat tolerant and cold-hardy down to 15℉. While it’s considered evergreen, it’s normal for it to lose some leaves during extreme drought or cold.
Sun Exposure
It thrives in full sun and doesn’t mind the reflected heat from a west-facing wall, the hottest spot in most gardens.
Size and Growth Rate
Globe mallow is considered a fast grower. A typical specimen will reach a size of 5’ wide by 4’ tall when mature.
Soil
To say it’s not fussy about soil is an understatement. It’s quite happy in rocky, clay, or even disturbed soil.
Globe Mallow:
The Essentials
| Common Names | Globe mallow, desert globemallow |
| Scientific Name | Sphaeralcea ambigua |
| Origin | Sonoran, Mojave Deserts |
| Plant Type | Evergreen shrub, drought-deciduous |
| USDA Zones | Zones 7 – 11 |
| Cold Hardiness | To 15℉ |
| Flower Color | Various, usually orange, |
| Flower Season | Spring, summer, fall |
| Mature Size | 4’ high x 5’ wide |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Sun Tolerance | Full sun, reflected sun |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Pests & Diseases | Root rot if overwatered |
| Garden Friendly | No thorns, non-toxic |
| Cautions | Irritating hairs |
| Wildlife | Attracts butterflies, bees, hummingbirds Javelina resistant |
How to Plant
The rule of thumb when planting any shrub or tree in the desert is to dig a hole three times as wide as the root ball but no deeper. Amending the soil is not recommended. Counterintuitively, backfilling with the same native soil you just dug up helps your plant develop a stronger root system.
Buying tip!
Buy globe mallow when it’s in bloom.
It’s the only way you’ll know for sure what color you’re getting.
When to Plant Globe Mallow
The best time to plant globe mallow is in the fall. This gives your shrub three seasons to grow roots and get established before the following summer.
The second best time is in spring, the earlier the better. This still gives your plant time to get established before the intense heat of June arrives.
Globe mallow’s leaves are covered in tiny hairs that some people find irritating, so be sure to wear gloves and long sleeves when planting or pruning this plant.
Globe mallow can easily be grown from seed.
Learn how in our post The Easy Way to Grow Desert Wildflowers.
How to Care for Globe Mallow
Whether you’ve recently planted a globe mallow or have an existing plant in your yard, here’s how to take care of it to keep it healthy and looking its best.
How to Water New Plants
Once you’ve got your globe mallow planted, watering is your most immediate concern. Here is the recommended watering schedule for new shrubs planted in the spring or fall.
| Weeks 1 & 2 | Every 3 – 4 days |
| Weeks 3 & 4 | Every 6 – 7 days |
| Weeks 5 & 6 | Every 7 – 10 days |
| Weeks 7 & 8 | Every 10 – 14 days |
After week 8, gradually extend the time between waterings.
How to Water Established Plants
As your shrub gets established, there are two watering factors to consider.
- First is how often to water. This will vary with the seasons.
- Second is how much water to give your shrub with each watering. This depends on the current size of your plant.
To determine the ideal watering schedule for globe mallow or any desert shrub you’ll find everything you need to know, including easy-to-use charts, at How to Water Desert Shrubs: How Often? How Much?
Be sure not to overwater globe mallow. This can lead to floppy plants and root rot.
Should You Fertilize?
There is no need to fertilize globe mallow. They are well-adapted to thrive in native desert soil.
How to Prune
Globe mallow is a casual rather than formal plant. It has a free-form shape that does not respond well to being pruned into a hedge or ball.
Fortunately, pruning globe mallow is quite simple. After it’s finished with its main spring bloom, cut it back to 1 foot in the early summer. Globe mallow can look a little rough during the summer and a severe regenerative prune is just what it needs to bounce back and continue to flower throughout the summer and fall.
Globe Mallow Cultivars
Globe mallow has several popular varieties you may encounter when plant shopping.
Sphaeralcea ambigua ‘Orange Crush’ is a more compact version of the parent plant. It grows only 18 inches tall, making it more of a ground cover than a shrub. It’s covered in bright coral-orange flowers much of the year — from late December through June. It’s a favorite of hummingbirds.
Sphaeralcea ambigua ‘Louis Hamilton’, like orange crush, is a smaller version of the original plant, reaching 2 feet tall and 2 – 3 feet’ wide. In the spring it’s covered with large watermelon-red flowers and then blooms intermittently through the summer and fall.
Sphaeralcea ambigua ‘Papago Pink’ blooms abundantly in the spring and then intermittently through the fall. It is covered with huge light pink blossoms that are reminiscent of hollyhocks.
Plant Lover Facts
Globe mallow has a large native range that includes desert and shrubland regions of Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, and northwestern Mexico.
Did you enjoy this article?
Sign up for our weekly newsletter
where you’ll find more great info on creating &
maintaining a beautiful, carefree desert landscape.
Author Bio
Deane Alban is the creator of Southwest Gardener. She is a science writer with a bachelor’s degree in botany from the University of South Florida. Gardening is her lifelong passion. She’s been gardening in Tucson for 15 years.
