One of my favorite group of plants for the California bee garden is the globe mallows (Sphaeralcea spp.). These tough-as-nails plants grow in full sun to light shade and can get by on normal rainfall alone, although they'll bloom better with some summer water. I cut them back after the first flush of flowers in the spring and again in the fall. This genus is listed for Sunset zones 3 and 7-24 but does best in hot, dry climates. They also need well-drained soil.
Native to the arid west, the globe mallows flower nearly year-round and grow quickly to three to five feet tall and wide. Detailed information on this group of plants and the bees that use them is available from the USDA.
There are two examples of this genus at the Haven: Sphaeralcea ambigua and a cultivar introduced by Hopley's Nursery in Great Britain, Sphaeralcea ‘Hopley's Lavender'.
