# Tujunga bushmallow (*Malacothamnus davidsonii*)

The Tujunga bushmallow is a lovely shrub with soft, fuzzy leaves and pretty yellow flowers. It grows in sunny places and is a great home for butterflies and bees!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Coastal areas

![Tujunga bushmallow](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Malacothamnusdavidsonii.jpg&width=800)

Photo: joedecruyenaere, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Malacothamnusdavidsonii.jpg)

## Appearance

The Tujunga bushmallow has soft, gray-green leaves covered in tiny star-shaped hairs. Its charming, rose-pink to lavender-pink cup-shaped flowers bloom in clusters, making it stand out against other green shrubs.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Malvales
- **Family:** Malvaceae
- **Genus:** Malacothamnus

## Interesting facts

- It helps stop dirt from washing away on hillsides, protecting the land from erosion!
- It's related to cotton plants, okra, and even beautiful hibiscus flowers!
- The 'bushmallow' name comes from its fuzzy leaves, which feel soft like marshmallows!
- This tough plant can live for many years, growing stronger after each bloom season!

## Special abilities

- **Drought Shield:** Tujunga bushmallow has fuzzy leaves that trap moisture, helping it survive long, dry periods in its sunny, arid habitat.
- **Fire Responder:** Tujunga bushmallow can regrow from its root crown after wildfires, an amazing way to recover and thrive in fire-prone areas.
- **Pollinator Magnet:** Tujunga bushmallow produces sweet nectar that attracts native bees and butterflies, ensuring its flowers are pollinated.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 90-300 cm
- **Spread:** 90-250 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1-2.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late Spring to early Summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Yellow-faced bumblebee (*Bombus vosnesenskii*) — visits flowers for nectar and pollen
- **Pollinates:** Painted Lady butterfly (*Vanessa cardui*) — sips nectar from its blossoms
- **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — gathers nectar and pollen from flowers

## 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.
- [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.
- [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe!

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Tujunga bushmallow?

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 Tujunga bushmallow?

90-300 cm

### How wide does Tujunga bushmallow spread?

90-250 cm

### How big are the flowers on Tujunga bushmallow?

1-2.5 cm

### When does Tujunga bushmallow bloom?

Late Spring to early Summer

### Is Tujunga bushmallow edible?

No

### Is Tujunga bushmallow toxic?

None

### What is Tujunga bushmallow's lifecycle?

Perennial

## 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*)

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Source: [Tujunga bushmallow: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tujunga-bushmallow)