Bristly Mallow (Modiola caroliniana) is in the Mallow and Hibiscus Family family (Malvaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,014 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to May, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Bristly Mallow: observations by month (U.S.)
About Bristly Mallow
Modiola is a monotypic genus of plants in the mallow family containing the single species Modiola caroliniana, which is known by several common names, including bristly-fruited mallow, Carolina bristlemallow, babosilla, and redflower mallow. It is a creeping perennial which is probably native to South America but which is widely naturalized throughout the tropical and warmer temperate world.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Bristly Mallow by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 578 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Alabama | 67 | April | Apr–May |
| Louisiana | 63 | April | Mar–Apr |
| North Carolina | 54 | April | Apr–May |
| Georgia | 50 | April | Apr–May |
| Mississippi | 48 | April | Mar–May |
| South Carolina | 35 | April | Apr–May |
| Virginia | 32 | May | Apr–May |
| Tennessee | 31 | April | Apr–May |
| Arkansas | 27 | April | Apr–May |
| Florida | 13 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Arizona | 5 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Oklahoma | 5 | April | Apr–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Mallow and Hibiscus Family)
Checkerbloom
Swamp Rose Mallow
Turk's cap
Apricot Globemallow
Cretan mallow
Southern Coastal Bushmallow
Common Hibiscus
Cheeseweed Mallow
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Bristly Mallow?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from April to May.
Where is Bristly Mallow most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Alabama, Louisiana.