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| Category: Shrub |
| Family: Malvaceae (w/Bombacaceae & Sterculeacea) |
| Origin: California (U.S.A.) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Golden |
| Bloomtime: Spring/Summer |
| Height: 15-20 feet |
| Width: 10-15 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
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Fremontodendron mexicanum (Southern Flannel Bush) - A large evergreen shrub that can grow to 20 feet tall by as wide with velvety gray-green leaves with distinct 3 to 5 lobes and stellate hairs on the underside. These leaves only sparsely cover the branches so the plant is quite open when the great abundance of lemon-yellow flowers with a reddish tinge to the outside of the petals are displayed in the spring and summer. It does best in full sun with no supplementary water and is reliably hardy to about 15 ° F and perhaps as low as 10° F. The fuzz on the leaves can be very irritating to the skin, and protection should be worn for the eyes if a person needs to work with this plant. Fremontodendron mexicanum is rare and endangared in it natural habit which extends from the Laguna mountains of southern San Diego County south into northern Baja California where it can be found within the chaparral commmunity as well as among Tecate cypress trees (Hesperocyparis forbsii) in the coniferous forest. The name of the genus was named in combination with the Greek word 'dendron', meaning "tree", as a dedication to John Charles Frémont (1813-1890) who first collected Fremontodendron californicum during an 1846 expedition to Alta California. It was granted the Awarded of Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society in 1927. We have grown this great cultivar since 1982 and also grow Fremontodendron mexicanum, Fremontodendron 'Ken Taylor' and Fremontodendron 'Dara's Gold'.
This description is based on our research and observations made of this plant as it grows in our nursery, in the nursery garden and in other gardens that we have visited. We also try to incorporate comments received from others and appreciate getting feedback of any kind from those who have additional information about this plant, particularly if they disagree with what we have written or if they have additional cultural tips that would aid others in growing Fremontodendron mexicanum.
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