I found this article and thought I would share for any who have not seen it. Has anyone offered these to there torts? If so any problems?
http://www.vvdailypress.com/articles/mallow_11544___article.html/desert_globe.html
Daily Press
AWAC Plant of the Month
March 27, 2009 - 9:19 AM
LINDA ELLSWORTH SPECIAL TO THE DAILY PRESS
People who don't know the desert may think ithere is no color in native plants. The desert globe mallow is a wonderful example of the rich variety of color and texture that can be found throughout the Mojave and Sonoran Desert areas of California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona.
The Sphaeralcea is part of the mallow family (Malvaceae), in which there are 40 to 60 species, including annuals, perennials and shrubs. Sphaeralcea ambigua is the species commonly known as desert globe mallow or apricot mallow. Long wands of orange flowers, resembling miniature hollyhocks, adorn this desert beauty. The leaves are fuzzy and deeply lobed on long stems. The hair-like fuzz will rub off and can irritate the eyes, inspiring a lesser used common name, the sore-eye poppy.
The globe mallow will adapt well to the home or commercial landscape. Once established, it is extremely drought tolerant. Best planted in the fall, it should be watered regularly for the first season to allow the roots to grow deeply into the soil. Spring will bring spires of abundant, large peach-colored flowers, continuing into mid-summer when the heat has driven most other flowers out of bloom. Flower color can vary from shades of red through orange and pink, even to white. For best appearance, cut last year's stems back to ground level in late winter before the spring growth begins. This plant may reach 30 inches wide by 30 inches tall. High Desert gardeners will be pleased to know that the globe mallow will take to any soil type. It is reported to thrive even in heavy clay and does not require supplemental feeding. If gardeners have difficulty finding the desert globe mallow in local nurseries, we were able to find online suppliers who have them in stock.
In the wild, this plant will generally be found in sandy washes and rocky hillsides below 4,000 feet. It can sometimes be seen as a spring wildflower along roadways where runoff gives it added moisture. It is grazed upon by bighorn sheep and domestic sheep and goats. Local residents who foster the desert tortoise report it as a delicacy for the tortoise as well.
The Alliance for Water Awareness and Conservation (AWAC) is dedicated to helping our communities use water more efficiently. For more information, please visit our website at www.hdawac.org.
http://www.vvdailypress.com/articles/mallow_11544___article.html/desert_globe.html
Daily Press
AWAC Plant of the Month
March 27, 2009 - 9:19 AM
LINDA ELLSWORTH SPECIAL TO THE DAILY PRESS
People who don't know the desert may think ithere is no color in native plants. The desert globe mallow is a wonderful example of the rich variety of color and texture that can be found throughout the Mojave and Sonoran Desert areas of California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona.
The Sphaeralcea is part of the mallow family (Malvaceae), in which there are 40 to 60 species, including annuals, perennials and shrubs. Sphaeralcea ambigua is the species commonly known as desert globe mallow or apricot mallow. Long wands of orange flowers, resembling miniature hollyhocks, adorn this desert beauty. The leaves are fuzzy and deeply lobed on long stems. The hair-like fuzz will rub off and can irritate the eyes, inspiring a lesser used common name, the sore-eye poppy.
The globe mallow will adapt well to the home or commercial landscape. Once established, it is extremely drought tolerant. Best planted in the fall, it should be watered regularly for the first season to allow the roots to grow deeply into the soil. Spring will bring spires of abundant, large peach-colored flowers, continuing into mid-summer when the heat has driven most other flowers out of bloom. Flower color can vary from shades of red through orange and pink, even to white. For best appearance, cut last year's stems back to ground level in late winter before the spring growth begins. This plant may reach 30 inches wide by 30 inches tall. High Desert gardeners will be pleased to know that the globe mallow will take to any soil type. It is reported to thrive even in heavy clay and does not require supplemental feeding. If gardeners have difficulty finding the desert globe mallow in local nurseries, we were able to find online suppliers who have them in stock.
In the wild, this plant will generally be found in sandy washes and rocky hillsides below 4,000 feet. It can sometimes be seen as a spring wildflower along roadways where runoff gives it added moisture. It is grazed upon by bighorn sheep and domestic sheep and goats. Local residents who foster the desert tortoise report it as a delicacy for the tortoise as well.
The Alliance for Water Awareness and Conservation (AWAC) is dedicated to helping our communities use water more efficiently. For more information, please visit our website at www.hdawac.org.