Sphaeralcea coccinea
scarlet globemallow
Great Plains and intermountain West, North America
Attracts PollinatorsAttracts ButterfliesDeer ResistantDrought TolerantContainer Friendly
Native to North America
Overview
Sphaeralcea coccinea is a low, spreading perennial 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) tall that forms colonies by creeping rhizomes and a deep taproot. The whole plant is covered in tiny star-shaped hairs that give the gray-green foliage a felted look and reflect heat. The leaves are 0.5-1.5 inches (1.5-4 cm) long, deeply cut into three to five wedge-shaped lobes. From late spring through summer, cup-shaped flowers 0.75-1 inch (2-2.5 cm) across open in short clusters along the upper stems, in shades of orange to brick-red with a column of fused stamens at the center. Each flower lasts a day or two, and bloom continues for weeks, longer where summer rain falls. The fruit is a ring of wedge-shaped segments that break apart at maturity. Native to dry plains and deserts, it withstands heat, drought, and poor alkaline soils, drawing on the taproot through long dry spells. It spreads underground to knit bare ground and tolerates grazing. One trade-off is its running rhizomes, which let established plants travel beyond where they were set.
Native Range
Native to the Great Plains and intermountain West of North America, from the Canadian prairies south through the Rockies and plains to Texas, Arizona, and northern Mexico. It grows on dry prairies, plains, mesas, and roadsides, often on sandy or rocky alkaline soils.Suggested Uses
Used in xeriscape and rock gardens, native and pollinator plantings, and erosion control on dry banks. It is grown as a low ground cover for hot, sunny sites and as forage and nectar in restoration seedings.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6" - 1'
Width/Spread1' - 2'
Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years
Bloom Information
Cup-shaped orange to brick-red flowers open from May through September, peaking in early summer and reblooming after rain. Each flower lasts a day or two, and a colony carries scattered bloom for many weeks. The display is heaviest where some summer moisture reaches the roots.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Orange to brick-redFoliage Description
Gray-green, feltedGrowing 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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in full sun in sharp-draining sandy, gravelly, or rocky soils at pH 6.5-8.5, and tolerates heat, drought, and alkaline ground. It needs little to no irrigation once the taproot is set and rots in rich, wet, or poorly drained soil. Hardy in zones 4-9, it dies back in winter and resprouts from the root and rhizomes. Seed germinates more evenly after scarification, and plants spread underground to form patches. Excess water and fertilizer produce weak, floppy growth.Pruning
Maintenance is minimal. Stems are cut back after bloom or in late winter to tidy the patch and prompt fresh growth. Unwanted rhizome spread is dug out at the edges of the colony.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
winter
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 2 gallons