# Scarlet Globemallow (*Sphaeralcea coccinea*) The Scarlet Globemallow is a bright orange-red flower that blooms in warm weather. It grows in sunny places and attracts butterflies and bees, making gardens colorful and lively! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 17 - **Habitat:** Desert ![Scarlet Globemallow](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Globemallow_%28Sphaeralcea_coccinea%29_%289471470335%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Hovenweep National Monument, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Globemallow_%28Sphaeralcea_coccinea%29_%289471470335%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Scarlet Globemallow has vibrant, cup-shaped flowers that bloom in fiery orange-red hues. Its grayish-green leaves are deeply lobed and covered in soft, star-shaped hairs, giving the plant a slightly fuzzy texture that makes it visually distinct. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Malvales - **Family:** Malvaceae - **Genus:** Sphaeralcea ## Interesting facts - Its flowers can be used to make a natural red-orange dye! - Native Americans used this plant for food and even to treat sore throats! - The unique star-shaped hairs on its leaves are amazing under a magnifying glass! - This plant is related to okra and cotton, both from the mallow family! ## Special abilities - **Drought Defender:** Scarlet Globemallow can grow a super-deep taproot that helps it find water deep underground and survive dry spells. - **Fuzzy Shield:** Scarlet Globemallow has soft, hairy leaves that help it trap moisture and protect itself from the hot sun and strong winds. - **Desert Beacon:** Scarlet Globemallow can produce intensely bright, orange-red flowers that help it attract pollinators from far across the open desert. - **Tough Feeder:** Scarlet Globemallow can thrive in poor, rocky soils that most other plants avoid, allowing it to grow where others can't. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 15-60 cm - **Spread:** 30-90 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-4 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Globemallow Bee (*Diadasia enavata*) — A specialist bee, highly dependent on mallow plants. - **Pollinates:** Common Eastern Bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — Collects nectar and pollen from the bright flowers. - **Pollinates:** Painted Lady butterfly (*Vanessa cardui*) — Visits the vibrant flowers for nectar during migration. - **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — May browse on the leaves and stems, especially new growth. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Desert](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/desert): Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch flowers without asking an adult, as some plants can be prickly. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Scarlet Globemallow? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Scarlet Globemallow? 15-60 cm ### How wide does Scarlet Globemallow spread? 30-90 cm ### How big are the flowers on Scarlet Globemallow? 2-4 cm ### When does Scarlet Globemallow bloom? Late spring to fall ### Is Scarlet Globemallow edible? Yes ### Is Scarlet Globemallow toxic? None ### What is Scarlet Globemallow's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Colorado National Monument Visitor Center Complex](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/colorado-national-monument-visitor-center-complex) — Colorado, US · National Park - [Dinosaur Ridge](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/dinosaur-ridge) — Colorado, US · Natural Landmark - [Toadstool Geologic Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/toadstool-geologic-park) — Nebraska, US · Nature Reserve - [Pueblo Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pueblo-zoo) — Colorado, US · Zoo - [Roosevelt Park Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/roosevelt-park-zoo) — North Dakota, US · Zoo - [Cheyenne Botanic Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cheyenne-botanic-gardens) — Wyoming, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Scarlet Globemallow](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/scarlet-globemallow) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Scarlet Globemallow: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/scarlet-globemallow)