Gossypium davisonii
Algodón
Family: Malvaceae
Open woody deciduous shrub growing to about 6’ tall. Summer through fall, hibiscus flowers with distinctive bracts occur—they are hibiscus-like, yellow with red dots at the base of the petals.
Full sun, moderate water, root hardy to about 15°F though stem damage starts to occur in mid 20s °F.
Nectar rich flowers that attract many pollinators. Larval food plant for painted lady (Vanessa cardui), gray hairstreak (Strymon melinus), and the royal moth (Citheronia splendens sinaloensis).
Though a true cotton, this plant produces no fiber.
The generic name Gossypium is derived from the Greek name for cotton, gossypion, while davidsonii is named for Anstruther Davidson (1860–1932) who was a Scottish-American physician, professor of medicine, botanist, and entomologist.Native to Baja California and Sonora in desert scrub and thornscrub.