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Hibiscus coulteri

Hibiscus coulteri
Photographer: Mark A. Dimmitt
ID: ASDM01703
Copyright: © 2001 ASDM
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Date: August 2001
Location: Tucson Mts, AZ
Scientific Name: Hibiscus coulteri
English Name: desert rose mallow, desert hibiscus, Coulter hibiscus
Spanish Name: tulipán, hibisco

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This species is present in the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum's live collection.

Hibiscus coulteri

Description

Desert hibiscus is a weak-stemmed, sparsely-branched shrub to 3 feet (1 m) tall. The upper leaves are 3-lobed. Showy flowers almost 2 inches (5 cm) wide are light yellow with a purple spot on each of the 5 petals. They bloom nearly year round in response to rain. Plants are difficult to find when not in flower because they nearly always grow among other shrubs for support.

Range

It occurs from near Tucson to western Texas and northern Mexico.

Malvaceae (mallow family)

The mallows number about 1500 species worldwide; most are characterized by alternate, simple, palmate leaves with stellate (branched, star-shaped) hairs. Mallow flowers are easily recognized by the filaments, which are united into a tube surrounding the style. Familiar examples include hibiscus, cotton, okra, and hollyhock.

— Mark A. Dimmitt,
A Natural History of the Sonoran Desert (ASDM Press, 2000)