Sphaeralcea species are somewhat difficult to identify. The species boundaries are not always sharp because there is frequent hybridization, polyploidy, and morphological variation in response to environmental conditions, particularly rainfall. Plants growing in Arizona are particularly difficult to identify[].

Common Name: Common Globemallow

General Information

Sphaeralcea coccinea is a herbaceous perennial plant producing a cluster (usually 3 - 6) ascending to decumbent stems from a rhizomatous rootstock; the plant usually grows 10 - 30cm tall, occasionally to 50cm[]. The main
taproot is woody and stout and may remain unbranched for 90cm before it divides into lateral roots[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental in gardens[].

Known Hazards

Care should be used when handling seed because the stellate hairs on the seed can be a severe eye irritant[].
The hairs on the leaves can cause irritation to some people[].

Botanical References

,

Range

Western and central N. America - British Colombia to Manitoba, south through Idaho and Iowa to Arizona, Texas and northern Mexico

Habitat

Dry plains, prairies, disturbed roadsides; at elevations from 300 - 2,500 metres[]. The var elata is found in rocky, sandy, or silty soil, limestone, gypsum, or igneous substrates, slopes, flats, or washes, desert scrub or shrublands[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.25 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Sphaeralcea coccinea is a plant of semi-arid regions, succeeding in areas with a mean annual rainfall as low as 150 - 250mm[]. It can tolerate considerable winter cold so long as it is not wet, and is recommended for growing in hardiness zones 6 - 8[].
Requires a sunny position, succeeding in a wide range of well-drained soils from sandy to clay loams to gravelly to alkaline and moderately saline soils, but it is not generally found on sodic soils. Tolerates a pH ranging from 5 - 8[]. Once established, the plant is extremely drought tolerant[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

A poultice of the chewed roots is applied to sores[].

The plant is used as a tonic to improve the appetite[]. An infusion is used to stop bleeding[].
The dried plant is ground into a powder and used as a dusting powder on sores[]. The plant is used to make a lotion to treat skin diseases[]. The chewed plant is applied as a soothing and healing salve on burns and wounds[]. An infusion of the plant is used as a wash on swellings[].

Sphaeralcea species are good sources of mucilage in the form of mucopolysaccharide starches. This has been shown to stimulate macrophage activity and help promote healing and resistance, especially in the skin, upper intestinal tract, urinary tract and lungs[].
The whole plant is demulcent and emollient[]. Taken internally, it can be used to soothe sore throats and irritations along the digestive tract, urinary tract etc. Applied externally, it can be used to soothe and promote healing of cuts, burns, wounds etc[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant provides good ground cover on disturbed sites. Although its value for erosion control is low to moderate, it is used in low rainfall area native seed mixtures to stabilize roadsides and other disturbed sites[].

Other Uses

The plant is a rich source of mucilage. An infusion is often used as a hair rinse after shampooing, when it is said to give the hair body. A strong infusion will curl the hair if it is not rinsed out[].

The root juice, when rubbed on the hands, is said to protect them from fire or boiling water[].

The plant is pounded in water until it makes a gummy paste - this is applied over the rough, inner surfaces of earthenware dishes[].

Propagation

Seed - it has a hard seed coat and benefits from either autumn sowing or scarification of stored seed[]. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing.
Softwood cuttings in a frame in early summer[].
Division[].