Alex Heyman, no rights reserved (CC0) · iNaturalist
Overview
Eremalche spp. is a small genus of desert annual herbs in the mallow family, Malvaceae, native to the arid southwest of North America. Three species are recognised, the most familiar being E. rotundifolia, the desert fivespot, alongside E. exilis and E. parryi. Plants are slender winter-to-spring annuals, growing 4 to 24 in (10 to 60 cm) tall, with rounded to lobed grey-green leaves on thin upright stems. The bowl-shaped flowers measure about 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5 cm) across and range from pink to lilac, each of the five petals often marked with a deep red to maroon spot near its base, which gives the fivespot its name. Flowering follows winter rains, mainly from late winter into spring, after which the plants set seed and wither as the desert dries. Like many desert ephemerals, Eremalche spp. germinates and blooms only in years with sufficient rainfall, so populations vary widely from season to season. The plants are short-lived and depend entirely on seed, persisting in the soil seed bank through dry years rather than as standing growth.
Native Range
Native to the deserts of southwestern North America, including the Mojave and Sonoran deserts of California, Nevada, and Arizona into northwestern Mexico. Eremalche spp. grows on sandy flats, gravelly slopes, and desert washes, mostly below about 4,000 ft (1,200 m).Suggested Uses
Eremalche spp. species are grown chiefly in desert, native, and wildflower plantings, and in seed mixes for arid-climate restoration. The spring flowers supply pollen and nectar to native desert bees. They suit naturalistic dryland gardens where occasional, weather-dependent flowering is acceptable.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 2'
Width/Spread4" - 1'
Bloom Information
Flowering is tied to winter rainfall and runs mainly from late winter into spring, roughly February to May. Bowl-shaped flowers open over a few weeks before the plants dry out. In dry years germination may fail and few or no plants appear.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Pink to lilacFoliage Description
Grey-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Water & Climate
Water Needs
Drought Tolerance
Drought tolerant when established