Bloomipedia
Scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea)
Photo: Loren Cassin Sackett via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Scarlet globemallow

Sphaeralcea coccinea

Scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) is a low shrub in the Malvaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–June across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Scarlet globemallow is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 7 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–June.

17states where USDA records it
7Bloomipedia state lists include it
11,784U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming

Quick look

Sphaeralcea coccinea, commonly known as the scarlet globemallow, scarlet mallow, cowboy's delight, prairie mallow, red false mallow, or simply as globe mallow is a perennial plant growing 10–30 cm tall from spreading rhizomes with a low habit. They have grayish stems with dense, star-shaped hairs and alternately arranged leaves.

  • It belongs to the Malvaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) / a subshrub with a biennial, perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 17 states. USDA PLANTS
  • In Colorado, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–July. iNaturalist
  • In New Mexico, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–June. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as red. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 1.5 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 5,574 research-grade sightings of it in Colorado, ranking #15 among the 160 flowers on our Colorado list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,156 research-grade sightings of it in New Mexico, ranking #37 among the 152 flowers on our New Mexico list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 785 research-grade sightings of it in South Dakota, ranking #7 among the 126 flowers on our South Dakota list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (961 records)
Bloom time in the 7 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
ColoradoNativeMay–July5,574
New MexicoNativeApril–June1,156
South DakotaNativefew records (36)785
MontanaNativefew records (22)708
WyomingNativefew records (36)631
North DakotaNativeJune380
NebraskaNativefew records (12)247

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Colorado
No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Colorado.
New Mexico
Not listed Not on New Mexico state endangered plant species (19.21.2.9 NMAC). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in New Mexico. 19.21.2.9 NMAC
South Dakota
No list South Dakota's endangered and threatened list (ARSD 41:10:02) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's South Dakota ranks for plants. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in South Dakota.
Montana
No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Montana.
Wyoming
No list Wyoming has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Wyoming ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Wyoming.
North Dakota
No list North Dakota has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's North Dakota ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in North Dakota.
Nebraska
Not listed Not on Nebraska threatened and endangered species (163 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 4, § 004). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Nebraska. 163 NAC 4-004
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: IA (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

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 scarlet globemallow in 17 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wyoming.

Colorado counties with USDA records: Adams, Alamosa, Archuleta, Baca, Bent, Boulder, Chaffee, Cheyenne, Conejos, Costilla, Crowley, Custer, Delta, Denver, Dolores, Douglas, Eagle, El Paso, Garfield, Grand, Gunnison, Huerfano, Jackson, Jefferson, Kiowa, Kit Carson, La Plata, Larimer, Las Animas, Lincoln, Logan, Mesa, Mineral, Moffat, Montezuma, Montrose, Morgan, Otero, Park, Prowers, Pueblo, Rio Blanco, Rio Grande, Saguache, San Miguel, Sedgwick, Summit, Washington, Weld, Yuma.

New Mexico counties with USDA records: Bernalillo, Catron, Chaves, Colfax, Curry, De Baca, Dona Ana, Eddy, Grant, Guadalupe, Harding, Lincoln, Los Alamos, Luna, McKinley, Mora, Otero, Quay, Rio Arriba, Roosevelt, San Juan, San Miguel, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Socorro, Taos, Torrance, Union.

South Dakota counties with USDA records: Beadle, Brule, Butte, Campbell, Charles Mix, Corson, Custer, Davison, Day, Dewey, Douglas, Fall River, Gregory, Haakon, Hand, Harding, Jerauld, Jones, Kingsbury, Lyman, Meade, Mellette, Potter, Stanley, Todd, Tripp, Walworth, Ziebach.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Scarlet globemallow a high shade tolerance, high drought tolerance and low moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 6.5 to 8.4 and winter lows down to -23 °F.

Shade tolerance
High
Drought tolerance
High
Moisture use
Low
Soil textures it is adapted to
coarse, medium
Soil pH range
6.5 to 8.4
Minimum temperature tolerated
-23 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
115
Annual precipitation range
6 to 35 inches
Minimum root depth
6 inches
Salinity tolerance
Medium
Fertility requirement
Low
Growth rate
Rapid
Lifespan
Short
Active growth period
Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed
Brown · Summer to Fall
Can be propagated by
container, seed
Commercial availability
Field Collections Only

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

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 452 counties across 16 states; the most are in Kansas (62), Texas (59), Montana (51).

Other Sphaeralcea on Bloomipedia (1): Apricot 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 Colorado flowers

Dwarf mallow (Malva neglecta)

Dwarf mallow

Malva neglecta

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in CO: April–October
Tropical hibiscus (Hibiscus × rosa-sinensis)

Tropical hibiscus

Hibiscus × rosa-sinensis

🌷 Flowering shrub

🌷 Grown in Colorado gardens
Great mullein (Verbascum thapsus)

Great mullein

Verbascum thapsus

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in CO: July–October

Sources