Such early flowering! Usually bush mallow flowers first emerge in April, and continue through summer. But this year they’re already popping out on sunny slopes in Mugu State Park.

Name Origin: Malacothamnus is Greek for “soft shrub.” The species name fasciculatus means “clustered“ or “bundled” in Latin, referring to the leaves and/or flowers. Other members of the Mallow family include hibiscus, okra, hollyhock, cotton, and a plant named Althaea officinalis, whose roots were used to make the original marshmallow as far back at 2000 BCE. The modern confection, however, is made from sugar, gelatin, and corn starch.