Fremontodendron mexicanum is a rare species of shrub in the mallow family known by the common names Mexican flannelbush, Mexican fremontia, and Southern flannelbush, that is endemic to the central Peninsular Ranges in Mexico and the United States.
Distribution The species is known from about ten occurrences in northern Baja California state and adjacent southern San Diego County, California. However, it has most recently been confirmed to exist in only two of those locales currently.California Native Plant Society Rare Plant Profile In 1993, fewer than 100 individuals were thought to exist. In the United States it is a federally listed endangered species.
Ecology The shrub grows generally on alluvial plains, in California montane chaparral and woodlands and temperate coniferous forest habitats, among Tecate cypress (Cupressus forbesii) trees.Federal Register October 3, 2006.
Description Fremontodendron mexicanum is an erect, flowering shrub or multi-trunked small tree reaching high, with branches spreading to wide.Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower.org: Fremontodendron mexicanum
The leathery and furry olive green leaves are up to 5 centimeters long and divided into several wide lobes.
The solitary flowers, each about 6 centimeters wide, appear spread along the branches. The showy flowers are made up of five bright orange sepals and have no true petals.
Cultivation Fremontodendron mexicanum is cultivated as an ornamental plant by specialty plant nurseries, for planting in native plant, drought tolerant, and wildlife gardens, and in natural landscaping and habitat restoration projects.Las Pilitas Horticultural Database: Fremontodendron mexicanum (Mexican Flannel Bush)Bornstein, Carol, David Fross, and Bart O'Brien. California Native Plants for the Garden. Los Olivos, CA: Cachuma Press. 2005.
Cultivated plants need good drainage, and no supplemental summer water when established.
Hybrids There are several named hybrids of Fremontodendron mexicanum and Fremontodendron californicum in the horticultural trade, they include: Fremontodendron 'California Glory' — lemon-yellow flowers with a reddish tinge, grows in height by in width. It is the winner of the Award of Garden Merit from the California Horticultural Society in 1965, and received a First Class Certificate from the Royal Horticultural Society in 1967. San Marcos Growers: Fremontodendron 'California Glory' Fremontodendron 'Ken Taylor' — golden flowers with a darker orange outside petals in the spring and summer, and grows to only in height by in width.San Marcos Growers: Fremontodendron 'Ken Taylor' Fremontodendron 'Dara's Gold' — golden flowers over a long period from late winter through early summer, grows in height by in width. A hybrid between Fremontodendron decumbens and Fremontodendron mexicanum.San Marcos Growers: Fremontodendron 'Dara's Gold'
References
External links CalFlora Database: Fremontodendron mexicanum (Mexican flannelbush, Southern flannelbush, Mexican fremontia) Jepson Manual Treatment of Fremontodendron mexicanum USDA Plants Profile for Fremontodendron mexicanum (Mexican flannelbush) The Nature Conservancy Fremontodendron mexicanum — UC Photos gallery