Velvet Mallow

Part or dappled sun. Semi-evergreen, with silvery-green heart-shaped leaves and yellow blooms that glow like candles in the shaded settings where this native thrives. Often seen in Hill Country woodlands, velvet leaf thrives in somewhat drier conditions than its close relative, Turk’s cap.

Velvet mallow requires no special care, as long as soils are well drained. It’s not commonly available commercially, so preserve it if you already have it on-site. (It can be easily grown from seed.) It serves as a larval host to various skipper butterflies.