Mt. Lemmon Cotton Gossypium thurberi
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- gos-SIP-ee-um THUR-ber-eye
- Description
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Desert Cotton is a wild species in the cotton family. It grows in partial to full sun with showy cream flowers that bloom in the late summer to early fall. 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.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Gossypium
- Species:
- thurberi
- Family:
- Malvaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Arizona to Mexico
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Drainage:
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8b, 8a, 9b, 9a, 10b, 10a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Purple/Lavender
- Fruit Description:
- Green when immature dry brown pods split in three to reveal purple cottonballs
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- Showy 5 petaled white flowers turn pink on their second day
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Velvety
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Palmasect
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Simple, entire margins, 3-5 lobes. Red fall color.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
