How much sun does Melochia tomentosa need?

Melochia tomentosa grows best in full sun, ideally with at least six hours of direct light a day. It can tolerate some light afternoon shade but flowers less freely in shadier spots.

How much water does Melochia tomentosa require?

This shrub has low water needs once established and prefers well drained, sandy or rocky soil. Overwatering or heavy, wet soil can weaken the plant.

When does Melochia tomentosa bloom?

Melochia tomentosa flowers over a long season, typically from March into November, with small pink to lavender blooms appearing repeatedly through the warm months.

What pollinators visit Melochia tomentosa?

The flowers are visited by bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, making it a useful addition to a pollinator garden in warm, sunny landscapes.

Is Woolly Pyramidflower HOA-friendly?

Woolly Pyramidflower takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Woolly Pyramidflower

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Melochia tomentosa

Last reviewed: October 2026

Melochia tomentosa is a drought tolerant shrub found in sunny, sandy sites across Florida and Texas, blooming from March through November with small pink to lavender flowers that draw bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Toxicity unknown

Woolly Pyramidflower (Melochia tomentosa) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

full sun

Water

low

Size

36"–96" H × 24"–72" W

Bloom

Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Native to

FL, TX

Pollinators

butterflies, bees, hummingbirds

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Southern Coastal Plain

Woolly Pyramidflower is a medium-sized native Texas shrub with soft, fuzzy leaves and small pink to purple flowers that bloom for most of the growing season. This drought-tolerant plant maintains its evergreen foliage year-round and attracts numerous pollinators with its long flowering period.

Growing Woolly Pyramidflower

Grow Woolly Pyramidflower in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 36 to 96 inches tall and spread 24 to 72 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Woolly Pyramidflower takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Height exceeds typical HOA-friendly range

Wildlife value

This shrub is excellent for pollinators, attracting butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds with its nectar-rich flowers that bloom from March through November. The extended blooming season makes it a valuable continuous food source for wildlife.

Common questions

How much sun does Melochia tomentosa need?: Melochia tomentosa grows best in full sun, ideally with at least six hours of direct light a day. It can tolerate some light afternoon shade but flowers less freely in shadier spots.
How much water does Melochia tomentosa require?: This shrub has low water needs once established and prefers well drained, sandy or rocky soil. Overwatering or heavy, wet soil can weaken the plant.
When does Melochia tomentosa bloom?: Melochia tomentosa flowers over a long season, typically from March into November, with small pink to lavender blooms appearing repeatedly through the warm months.
What pollinators visit Melochia tomentosa?: The flowers are visited by bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, making it a useful addition to a pollinator garden in warm, sunny landscapes.
Is Woolly Pyramidflower HOA-friendly?: Woolly Pyramidflower takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

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