Melochia tomentosa, Teabush
Scientific Name: Melochia tomentosa
Common Name: Teabush
Also Called: Pyramid Bush; (Spanish: Malva de Los Cerros, Malva Rosa, Bretonica, Malvavisco, Varita de San Josè)
Family: Malvaceae, Globe Mallow Family
Synonyms: (Melochia tomentosa var. frutescens)
Status: Native
Duration: Perennial
Size: Up to 24 inches more or less.
Growth Form: Forb/herb, shrub, subshrub;
Leaves: Green; alternate, margins simple.
Flower Color: Pink to purple;
Flowering Season: April to October.
Elevation: Up to 1,500 feet or more.
Habitat Preferences: Dry open areas, rocky hillsides, coastal thorn thickets, roadsides.
Recorded Range: Melochia tomentosa is very rare in the United States where it is found in the southern tip of Texas in Hidalgo County and southern and southeast Florida in Miami Dade and St. Lucie Counties. It is also native to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Melochia tomentosa is also found throughout Baja California and Mexico and south to Brazil.
North America & US County Distribution Map for Melochia tomentosa.
U.S. Weed Information: No information available.
Invasive/Noxious Weed Information: No information available..
Wetland Indicator: No information available.
Threatened/Endangered Information: No information available.
Genus Information: 7 species in Melochia in the United States from Texas east to Florida with species in AR, GA, IL, MS, NC, NY and SC. Melochia is included in the Cacao or Sterculiaceae family by some taxonomy books.
The Plant List includes 270 scientific plant names of species rank for the genus Melochia. Of these 57 are accepted species names.
Comments: Teabush is primarily a tropical and sub-tropical species found primarily in Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. This species provides nectar for butterflies. The photos above were taken October, 2015 from a beautiful specimen on display at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas.