Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Fremontodendron mexicanum is a rare species of shrub in the mallow family known by the common name Mexican flannelbush. It is known from about ten occurrences in northern Baja California and adjacent San Diego County, California, but it has most recently been confirmed to exist in only two of those locales today. In 1993, fewer than 100 individuals were thought to exist. In the United States it is a federally listed endangered species. The shrub grows in chaparral and coniferous forests among Tecate cypress trees, generally on alluvial plains. It is grown as an attractive ornamental plant in gardens and has occasionally been seen growing in the wild as a garden escapee. It is an erect, flowering shrub or multi-trunked small tree reaching 6-15 feet (1. 8-4. 6 m) high, with branches spreading to 10 feet (3. 0 m) wide. The leathery and furry olive green leaves are up to 5 centimeters long and divided into several wide lobes. The solitary flowers, each about 6 centimeters wide, appear spread along the branches. The showy flowers are made up of five bright orange sepals and have no true petals.

Fremontodendron mexicanum is cultivated as an ornamental plant by specialty plant nurseries, for planting in native plant, drought tolerant, and wildlife gardens, and in natural landscaping and habitat restoration projects.

Plant type

Shrub

Size

6 - 25 ft Tall
25 ft Wide

Form

Rounded

Growth rate

Fast

Dormancy

Evergreen

Fragrance

None

Calscape icon
Color

Yellow, Orange

Flowering season

Spring

Special uses

Hedge

Sun

Full Sun

Water

Low

Summer irrigation

Never irrigate once established

Cold tolerance

Tolerates cold to 20° F

Soil drainage

Fast

Soil description

Must be fast draining.
Soil PH: 6.0 - 8.0

Maintenance

Prune in late summer to encourage compact growth. Be sure to wear gloves as the leaf and stem hairs can be highly irritating.

Propagation

See or cuttings. Most plants available in nursery trade are hybrids, so cuttings are the best way to obtain a reliable result.

Site type

Dry sandy washes and slopes, usually within about 20 miles of the coast and below 2, 000 ft. in the southern part of the state, usually as part of the chaparral community. Also occasionally found in association with foothill woodland or pine forest

Plant communities

Chaparral

Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 1 likely

Confirmed Likely

Northern White-Skipper

Heliopetes ericetorum