Globe Mallow

Extremely drought tolerant — water every 2-3 weeks in summer and rarely otherwise; it blooms on rainfall and rots in overly wet or poorly drained soil.

Shear the whole plant back by half after the spring bloom to remove spent stalks, tidy the sprawl, and often trigger a lighter second flush; wear gloves, as the foliage hairs irritate skin.

None needed; it thrives on lean, unimproved desert soil.

Essentially pest-free; the main issue is a floppy, open habit if overwatered or grown in rich soil.

Lean, rocky, gravelly, fast-draining desert soils; thrives on hot, dry, disturbed ground; rots in rich or overwatered soil.

Needs sharp, fast-draining soil.

None — thrives in lean desert soil without fertilizer.

Seed; reseeds prolifically. The deep taproot makes it difficult to transplant except as young seedlings.

3 ft