Fremontodendron spp.

flannel bush

Malvaceae

Southwestern US and northwestern Mexico (California, Arizona, Baja California)

Attracts Pollinators Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun

WaterVery Low · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 8–10

Overview

Fremontodendron is a genus of two or three species of evergreen shrubs and small trees in the mallow family (Malvaceae), native to the dry slopes and chaparral of California, Arizona, and northern Baja California in Mexico. Plants grow 6-20 feet (1.8-6 m) tall, with stiff branches and rounded, lobed, dark green leaves that are covered beneath with dense, felty, rust-colored hairs. These hairs shed readily and can irritate skin, eyes, and airways. From spring into early summer the branches carry many saucer-shaped flowers 1.5-2.5 inches (4-6 cm) across; what appear to be yellow to orange petals are actually colored sepals. The dry seed capsules that follow are bristly. Fremontodendron is adapted to hot, dry, lean ground and needs sharp drainage and full sun, growing fast but proving short-lived, especially where summer irrigation or rich soil leads to root rot. Garden hybrids such as Fremontodendron 'California Glory' are grown for heavy spring bloom. The brittle wood and irritating hairs are the main drawbacks alongside the short lifespan.

Native Range

Fremontodendron is native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, growing on dry, rocky slopes, chaparral, and open woodland in California, Arizona, and northern Baja California. Several populations are localized and uncommon in the wild.

Suggested Uses

Fremontodendron is grown in dry, sunny shrub borders, on hot banks, in chaparral and native gardens, and trained against warm walls in cooler climates. It suits xeriscape and low-water plantings where summer drought is the rule. The spring flowers draw bees to pollinator plantings.

How to Identify

Recognized by rounded, lobed, dark green leaves with a dense rust-colored felt of hairs on the undersides, on stiff evergreen shrubs. Large saucer-shaped yellow to orange flowers, formed from colored sepals rather than true petals, open along the branches in spring. The felty leaf undersides, brittle stems, and sepal-based flowers separate Fremontodendron from other yellow-flowered shrubs.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6' - 20'

Width/Spread6' - 15'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Spring

Flowering occurs mainly in spring, from about April to June, with scattered later flowers through summer. The saucer-shaped yellow to orange flowers open along the previous year''s growth and draw bees. Bloom is heaviest in full sun on dry, lean soil.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

yellow to orange

Foliage Description

dark green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

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

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 8.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand rocky loam

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Very Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

Fast; 3-5 years to flowering size

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Fremontodendron grows in full sun and fast-draining, gritty or rocky soil of low fertility, tolerating heat and prolonged summer drought once established. Sharp drainage is essential, as the roots rot quickly in wet or rich soil, and summer irrigation often kills established plants. It is grown from seed or cuttings and planted out young, since it is set back by root disturbance. Established plants are left unwatered through summer in dry climates. The shedding hairs irritate skin and eyes during handling and pruning. Plants grow fast but are often short-lived, lasting only five to ten years in many gardens.

Pruning

Light pruning after flowering shapes the plant and shortens overlong shoots, but hard cutting into old wood is avoided, as the brittle stems regrow poorly. Plants are often trained flat against a warm wall in cooler regions. The irritating hairs make protective clothing usual during any cutting.