SPHAERALCEA. Globe mallow. The Americas. A group of hibiscus allies which includes annuals, perennials and shrubs. Most of them have distinctive 3-lobed leaves and brightly colored 5-petalled flowers, with the central tube of stamens common to the hibiscus and other mallows. The following are rugged, woody-based perennials, useful in exposed, dry sites with well drained soil, though they tolerate more generous treatment. Their hardiness varies.
fendleri var. venusta. Fendler globe mallow. A southwestern species making bushy mounds up to 3’ high, possibly less in the current material. It has white-hairy stems and grey-green leaves, greyer beneath. Elevated above them in summer on long, graceful stalks are interrupted clusters of gaily colored flowers, measuring up to 1" across. Flower colors for the species range from pale or bright orange to purple; in the current unnamed cultivar it is a deep, glowing pink. Hardy to 10oF. or less.
incana. Orange mallow. This is one for gardeners who long to grow the apricot mallow (S. ambigua) of our deserts, but find it too intolerant of wet winters. It is a robust perennial, producing many 2-4’ stems from the base. Both the stems and undersides of the 2” leaves are white-hairy, but the leaves are soft green above. Throughout the summer months and well into fall, it offers a wealth of 1” light to deep orange blossoms, much like those of apricot mallow, opening successively in long clusters. A really cheery plant for the summer garden. Hardy to 10oF or less.
munroana. This species is a northwestern native, inhabiting the basin and range country. I am told that material cultivated in California is actually S. philippiana from Argentina, though the textbook descriptcation for that species seems not quite to fit, either. The plant at hand is a more or less evergreen perennial with many prostrate stems, eventually forming a broad mat. The leaves are 1-2" long, broadly lobed, and soft greyish green in color. Clustered 1" blossoms of deep, warm pink decorate the plant much of the year. It is an adaptable plant, useful as a small-scale ground cover, especially on open banks. Hardy to 10oF or less.