Malacothamnus jonesii

Jones' Bush Mallow San Luis Obispo County Bush Mallow is a five foot tall gray evergreen shrub with fuzzy leaves. Pink flowers appear from May through July. It is native to San Luis Obispo County (including the nursery site) in chaparral areas and is also found in Monterey County, California. This shrub grows quickly in full sun with moderate water for the first year, then little or no irrigation, depending on your location. San Luis Obispo County bush mallow is cold tolerant to -10 degrees F. Some of the skipper butterflies use this and other Malacothamnus species as larval food plants. Also, hummingbirds visit this plant to obtain protein from the small insects (mini-wildlife) that are attracted to the nectar in the flowers. Gray plant lovers love this genus and it can make a showy garden subject if happy. It likes full sun to afternoon shade, grows in lighter soils and can tolerate deer. Good companions for Jones' Bush Mallow are White-flowered Currant (Ribes indecorum), Scrub Oak (Quercus berberidifolia), and Woolly Blue Curls (Trichostema lanatum), to name a few. (Syn. Malacothamnus niveus, Malacothamnus gracilis)