Bloomipedia
Apricot globemallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua)
Photo: Dan Vickers via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Apricot globemallow

Sphaeralcea ambigua

Apricot globemallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua) is a low shrub in the Malvaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly March–May across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Apricot globemallow is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 3 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in March–May.

4states where USDA records it
3Bloomipedia state lists include it
14,590U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Arizona, California, Nevada

Quick look

Sphaeralcea ambigua is a species of flowering plant commonly known as desert globemallow or apricot mallow, for its predominantly orange blooms. It has fuzzy, grey-green leaves. It is a member of the genus Sphaeralcea in the mallow family (Malvaceae).

  • It belongs to the Malvaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) / a subshrub with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 4 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to California, Nevada and Arizona. NatureServe
  • In California, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–May. iNaturalist
  • In Nevada, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–May. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as orange. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as early spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 5 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 10,965 research-grade sightings of it in California, ranking #84 among the 178 flowers on our California list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,135 research-grade sightings of it in Nevada, ranking #9 among the 132 flowers on our Nevada list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,277 research-grade sightings of it in Arizona, ranking #76 among the 132 flowers on our Arizona list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (4,104 records)
Bloom time in the 3 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
CaliforniaNativeMarch–May10,965
NevadaNativeMarch–May2,135
ArizonaNativeMarch–April1,277

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G4 Apparently secure worldwide. NatureServe
California
Not listed Not on California state-listed endangered, threatened and rare plants (14 CCR § 670.2), per CDFW's CNDDB list (July 2026). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in California. CNDDB listed plants (July 2026)
Nevada
Not listed Not on Nevada fully protected plants, critically endangered (NAC 527.010). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Nevada. NAC 527.010
Arizona
Not listed Not on Arizona Native Plant Law protected plants (Ariz. Admin. Code R3-3 Art. 11, App. A, eff. Feb. 2, 2025). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Arizona. AAC R3-3 App. A
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records apricot globemallow in 4 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah.

California counties with USDA records: Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Mono, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara.

Nevada counties with USDA records: Carson City, Churchill, Clark, Douglas, Esmeralda, Lander, Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing, Storey, Washoe, White Pine.

Arizona counties with USDA records: Apache, Coconino, Gila, La Paz, Maricopa, Mohave, Pima, Pinal, Yavapai, Yuma.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Apricot globemallow a high shade tolerance, high drought tolerance and low moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 7.5 to 8.5 and winter lows down to -6 °F.

Shade tolerance
High
Drought tolerance
High
Moisture use
Low
Soil textures it is adapted to
coarse, medium, fine
Soil pH range
7.5 to 8.5
Minimum temperature tolerated
-6 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
174
Annual precipitation range
5 to 15 inches
Minimum root depth
12 inches
Salinity tolerance
Medium
Fertility requirement
Low
Growth rate
Rapid
Lifespan
Short
Active growth period
Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed
Orange · Spring to Summer
Can be propagated by
seed
Commercial availability
Field Collections Only

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for SPAM2. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 38 counties across 4 states; the most are in Nevada (14), Arizona (10), California (10).

Other Sphaeralcea on Bloomipedia (1): Scarlet globemallow.

More from the Malvaceae family (29 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Turk's cap, Common hibiscus, Swamp rose mallow, Velvetleaf, Dwarf mallow, Checkerbloom, Bristly mallow, Winecup mallow.

More California flowers

Checkerbloom (Sidalcea malviflora)

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Tropical hibiscus

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🌷 Grown in California gardens
California poppy (Eschscholzia californica)

California poppy

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★ CA state flowerNative

🌼 Blooms in CA: March–May

Sources