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Plants that fill a similar niche:
Buddleja lindleyana Buddleja lindleyana
Clerodendrum trichotomum Clerodendron trichotomum
Cornus florida Cornus florida
Gossypium thurberi has some common insect problems:
Bacterial Blight of Cotton

Arizona Wild Cotton Gossypium thurberi

Phonetic Spelling
gos-SIP-ee-um THUR-ber-eye
Description

Desert Cotton is a deciduous shrub in the cotton family native to desert areas of Arizona and Mexico and is found in rocky canyons and slopes in riparian areas, grasslands, and oak woodlands up to 6,000 feet in elevation. The plant can grow up to 10 feet in height with pale yellow flowers and attractive foliage that turns maroon in winter. The plant attracts pollinators and is a host plant for butterflies and moths.

Desert cotton grows best in full sun but tolerates light shade and needs sandy well-drained soil. It flowers in the early summer and again in early fall. Small cotton bolls follow the flowers but produce too little cotton to be used commercially. The leaves are similar to other mallow plants with a soft downy texture.  The soil must remain dry through the winter months to ensure survival through spring.

This attractive plant can be used in an arid landscape as a large shrub or small tree and is available to purchase in Arizona. Pruning can be done in late spring for frost damage or any time to shape.

In the 1930s it was thought that the plant hosted the boll weevil and attempts were made to eradicate it. However, it was learned that it does not and the plant has fortunately survived.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Susceptible to the pink bollworm

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#small tree#white flowers#shrub#velvety#flowers late summer#fall color red#butterfly friendly#flowers early fall#desert plant#xeriscapes
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#small tree#white flowers#shrub#velvety#flowers late summer#fall color red#butterfly friendly#flowers early fall#desert plant#xeriscapes
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Gossypium
    Species:
    thurberi
    Family:
    Malvaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Arizona to Mexico
    Wildlife Value:
    Host plant for the royal moth and Grey Hairstreak butterflies. Flowers visited by pollinators
    Dimensions:
    Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Multi-stemmed
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    Very Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    3 feet-6 feet
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Purple/Lavender
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Description:
    Green when immature dry brown pods split into threes to reveal a few cotton threads
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Solitary
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Cup
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    Showy 5 petaled 2-inch wide ivory flowers with pink at the base. Blooms in May and June, and again in September
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Velvety
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Palmasect
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Simple downy green leaves with entire margins and 3-5 deep lobes. Red fall color. Varies in size depending on water availability
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Light Gray
    Bark Description:
    Smooth gray bark
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Green stems change to red
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Landscape Theme:
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Moths
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Heat