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Bull Mallow

Malva nicaeensis

Found on ballast, disturbed area. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), South Central edition What its natural habitat tells you

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Not native

Not native to Alabama. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 6%

At a glance

Not yet recorded · Height · Spread · Light · Soil · Life cycle · Leaves · Bloom

This plant is missing most of its facts, so Quercus is looking them up in old botany books.

Recorded in 1 Alabama county.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

All habitats

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

15CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including AL

Genus host records with ranges including AL · Malva

  • Agrotis ipsilonIpsilon Dart, Black Cutworm, Greasy Cutworm
  • Anomis erosaYellow Scallop Moth, Mallow Caterpillar
  • Burnsius albezensWhite Checkered-Skipper, Western Checkered Skipper
  • Burnsius communisCommon Checkered-Skipper
  • Burnsius oileusTropical Checkered-Skipper
  • Chloridea virescensTobacco Budworm Moth
  • Helicoverpa zeaCorn Earworm Moth
  • Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
  • Platynota stultanaOmnivorous Leafroller
  • Rachiplusia ouGray Looper
Show all 15
  • Spodoptera eridaniaSouthern Armyworm Moth
  • Strymon melinusGray Hairstreak
  • Trichoplusia niNi Moth, Cabbage Looper Moth
  • Vanessa carduiPainted Lady, Cosmopolite
  • Vanessa virginiensisAmerican Lady, American Painted Lady
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
—BeesSoutheastern regional records
—Specialist beesPollen specialists
5BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Malva

  • Callipepla californicaCalifornia Quail
  • Columbina passerinaCommon Ground Dove
  • Pheucticus melanocephalusBlack-headed Grosbeak
  • Zenaida asiaticaWhite-winged Dove
  • Zenaida macrouraMourning Dove
Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Malvaceae

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Conservation status

Alabama rankNot available
Global rankNot available
AL statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source

Native alternatives

Find natives for your garden

Sources