Plant Details

Indian Mallow

Abutilon palmeri

Also called: Palmer's Indian Mallow | Superstition Mallow

This lovely desert native is a standout in water-wise gardens, featuring velvety, heart-shaped silver-green leaves that feel like soft flannel. It produces a charming display of apricot-to-gold cup-shaped flowers that glow in the sunlight. It's a tough, sun-loving shrub that brings a soft texture and a warm palette to any arid landscape.

Flowering Winter interest Container friendly Heat tolerant California native Hummingbird friendly Bee friendly Butterfly friendly Deer resistant Beginner friendly Drought tolerant Likely to reseed

Abutilon palmeri

Photo by Curtis ClarkWikimedia CommonsSource CC BY-SA 2.5

Plant Snapshot

TypeShrub | Woody | Perennial | Evergreen

Growth habitBushy | Upright

Use categoriesBird Habitat | Native Garden | Ornamental | Pollinator Plant | Rock Garden

SettingOutdoor

Growth rateFast

Mature size classMedium

Bloom colorGold, Orange, Peach, Yellow

Bloom seasonSpring | Year-round

HardinessZones 8a-11b

Size36-60 in tall | 36-60 in wide

Life expectancy10 years

Size noteUsually grows into a rounded mound about 4-5 feet tall and wide.

Spacing36-60 in apart

Spacing noteGive it plenty of room to breathe to ensure good air circulation around the velvet leaves.

Growth Conditions

LightFull Sun

WaterLow

SoilLean | Rocky | Sandy

DrainageSharp Drainage

Leaf notesSilvery-gray to blue-green due to dense, velvety hairs.

Pruning notePrune back by about a third in late winter to maintain a dense, bushy shape and prevent it from becoming too woody.

Feeding noteRarely needs fertilizer; excessive nutrients can lead to leggy growth and fewer blooms.

Propagation noteEasily grown from seed or semi-hardwood cuttings taken in summer.

Seasonal Timing

Bloom timing

Spring

Peak flowering occurs in spring.

Year-round

In frost-free areas, it can bloom sporadically throughout the year.

Pruning window

Late winter

Best time to shape the plant before the spring growth flush.

Cautions

Pests

Spider Mites

Occasional problem in very hot, dusty conditions.

Whiteflies

Can be an issue in stagnant air; ensure good spacing.

Pet safetyNon-toxic

Allergy noteThe fine hairs on the leaves can be a mild skin irritant for some people.

Health noteNot listed yet.

Sources

California Native Plant Society (Calscape)
Excellent resource for California distribution and garden requirements.

Places that sell it

The Theodore Payne Foundation
Specializes in California native plants.
Las Pilitas Nursery
Offers a wide variety of drought-tolerant natives.

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