Bladdermallow
Herissantia crispa

Family: Malvaceae

Herbaceous shrub to about 3’ tall. White to yellow flowers in warm weather followed by lantern-like seed capsules that, when dry, fall apart when touched.

Full to part sun, moderate water, hardy to at least 15° F. May need to be cut back periodically.

Nectar-rich flowers. Larval food plant for numerous butterflies, especially skipper species. Expect in particular Arizona Powdered-Skipper (Systasea zampa), the Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), and the Erichson's White-Skipper (Heliopetes domicella).

There are 5 species of Herissantia native to the tropical and warm temperate Americas. Herissantia is named after Louis Antoine Prosper H_rissant (1745-1769), French physician, naturalist and poet, and crispa comes from Latin meaning "curled or wavy" in reference to the leaves.

Found on dry slopes, canyons, roadsides, and in desert-scrub communities, to 3,500 ft. in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas (and Florida) south into Mexico.

Photo by Sue Carnahan, SEINET
Herrisantia crispa on iNaturalist