Pollinator plant

Cape Mallow

Anisodontea capensis

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Common names

17 names · 11 languages
EnglishYour language
+3 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (10)
Dutch
  • Kaapse malva
  • Kamermalva[2][3]
French
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 玲瓏扶桑[3]
Czech
  • anisodonta kapská[3]
Finnish
  • huonemalva[3]
German
  • Kapländische Scheinmalve[4]
Russian
  • Анизодонтея капская[3]
Slovak
  • slezuľa kapská[3]
Swedish
Sources & name notes (4)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Anisodontea capensis — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Cape Mallow — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Anisodontea capensis.
  • African Mallow — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Anisodontea capensis.
  • Dwarf Pink Hibiscus — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Anisodontea capensis.
[2] Anisodontea capensis — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Cape Mallow — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 75454; Anisodontea capensis.
  • African Mallow — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 75454; Anisodontea capensis.
  • Wild Mallow — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 75454; Anisodontea capensis.
  • Wild Stockrose — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 75454; Anisodontea capensis.
  • Mauve du Cap — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 75454; Anisodontea capensis.
  • Kamermalva — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 75454; Anisodontea capensis.
[3] Anisodontea capensis — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Cape Mallow — results[22].names[1]; taxon id 75454; Anisodontea capensis.
  • African Mallow — results[22].names[7]; taxon id 75454; Anisodontea capensis.
  • Wild Mallow — results[22].names[6]; taxon id 75454; Anisodontea capensis.
  • Wild Stockrose — results[22].names[5]; taxon id 75454; Anisodontea capensis.
  • Mauve du Cap — results[22].names[9]; taxon id 75454; Anisodontea capensis.
  • Kamermalva — results[22].names[2]; taxon id 75454; Anisodontea capensis.
  • 玲瓏扶桑 — results[22].names[3]; taxon id 75454; Anisodontea capensis.
  • anisodonta kapská — results[22].names[4]; taxon id 75454; Anisodontea capensis.
  • rumsmalva — results[22].names[8]; taxon id 75454; Anisodontea capensis.
  • 小木槿 — results[22].names[10]; taxon id 75454; Anisodontea capensis.
  • huonemalva — results[22].names[11]; taxon id 75454; Anisodontea capensis.
  • Анизодонтея капская — results[22].names[12]; taxon id 75454; Anisodontea capensis.
  • slezuľa kapská — results[22].names[13]; taxon id 75454; Anisodontea capensis.
[4] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Anisodontea capensis ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Cape African-queen (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 164294; taxon 6748N.
  • Kapländische Scheinmalve (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 164295; taxon 6748N.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Anisodontea capensis is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Malvaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
0.61–1.22 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.61–1.22 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Erect

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Annual; Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Rapid

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Occasionally Dry

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Autumn; Spring; Summer; Winter

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: bees, butterflies.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Native range
Cape Prov.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

High suitability
Nectar value High
Pollen value High
Plant profile

About this plant

Cape Mallow (Anisodontea capensis) is a shrub. It flowers from June to September.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Anisodontea capensis — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 1966056; ID 6748N; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 1966056; ID 6748N; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Anisodontea capensis — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Anisodontea capensis — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 1305735; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 1166954

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.