Desert globemallow
Sphaeralcea ambigua
Apricot cups for desert bees; cut back after bloom.
Hardiness: zones 6 to 10
Light: full sun
Size: about 3 ft tall, 3 ft wide
From: SW North America
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: pollinators.
Native to: Desert Southwest, California, Rockies & Great Basin. Hardy in zones 6 to 10.
The story
Desert globemallow is a small hollyhock for hard places, with cupped flowers the color of apricots. A specialist native bee, the globe mallow bee, collects pollen from it and sleeps curled up inside the closed flowers.
Planting
Full sun and dry, drained soil.
Growing
Cut it back by half after the spring bloom to tidy it and bring a second round.
Harvest and use
Pollen and nectar for desert bees for months, and a host for several skipper and painted lady butterflies.
What to watch for
The star-shaped hairs on the leaves irritate eyes and skin. Wear gloves and keep your hands away from your face.
See if Desert globemallow fits your yard
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More native and wild plants
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home