Description

Fremont’s mallow is one of my favorite members of one of my favorite plant families, the mallows. It grows in open, dry areas in the interior coastal mountains and lower Sierra foothills from Shasta County to San Bernardino County. Its growth form varies with the growing conditions. In chaparral it tends to grow in an open, fountain form. This form may be enjoyed locally in Henry Coe State Park. In more fertile settings it grows as a dense expanding thicket of round silver white leaves to about seven feet. This form is most easily seen in my front yard, where a fremont’s mallow has grown into quite a thicket. The spring bloom forms a dense blanket of round carnation-pink flowers. The subsequent seed provides abundant forage for birds, so consider leaving these on the plant until early spring. Fremont’s mallow accepts a variety of growing conditions. It maintains an attractive appearance without supplemental irrigation, once established.