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(Sida fallax)
Yellow Ilima (Sida fallax)
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Sesamehoneytart
CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sesamehoneytart
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CC BY-SA 3.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Sesamehoneytart | License Type: CC BY-SA 3.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0 | Uploader: Sesamehoneytart | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Title: Sida_fallax_flower_Ilima.JPG | Notes: {{nl|Prikneus, from nl:, photo by [[:nl:Gebruiker:Algont]], left under [[GFDL]]}} {{pl:Firletka kwiecista (''Lychnis coronaria'')}} |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Sida fallax, commonly known as Yellow Ilima, is a perennial shrub native to coastal areas, dry forests, and shrublands of Hawaii, as well as Micronesia and Western Polynesia. It varies greatly in size, from a small ground cover to a shrub that reaches 1-10 feet in height and 3-8 feet in width. The Yellow Ilima has small, cup-shaped, bright yellow flowers that bloom year-round, with peak flowering in the spring. These flowers, which can be solitary or in small clusters, are quite showy and are the official flower of the island of Oahu. The plant has a cultural significance in Hawaii, where its flowers were once strung into leis for royalty and used in traditional medicine.
Yellow Ilima is valued for its drought tolerance and is often used in xeriscaping, native plant gardens, and as a ground cover or border plant in tropical and subtropical regions. It thrives in full sun and requires low to medium amounts of water, making it suitable for water-wise gardens. The plant prefers well-drained soils and can tolerate a range of soil types, from sandy to loamy. While it is generally easy to maintain, it can be susceptible to pests like aphids and whiteflies. Yellow Ilima is not known for being invasive and does not typically present problems with aggressive roots or diseases. It is, however, sensitive to overwatering, which can lead to root rot.CC BY-SA 4.0
Yellow Ilima is valued for its drought tolerance and is often used in xeriscaping, native plant gardens, and as a ground cover or border plant in tropical and subtropical regions. It thrives in full sun and requires low to medium amounts of water, making it suitable for water-wise gardens. The plant prefers well-drained soils and can tolerate a range of soil types, from sandy to loamy. While it is generally easy to maintain, it can be susceptible to pests like aphids and whiteflies. Yellow Ilima is not known for being invasive and does not typically present problems with aggressive roots or diseases. It is, however, sensitive to overwatering, which can lead to root rot.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Shrub
- Height: 1-10 feet
- Width: 3-8 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: Yellow
- Flowering Season: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
- Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun
- Water: Low, Medium
- Drainage: Medium
Common Uses
Groundcover, Low Maintenance
Natural Habitat
Coastal areas, dry forests, and shrublands of Hawaii
Other Names
Common Names: Ilima, Golden Mallow
Scientific Names: , Sida fallax, Sida ulmifolia, Sida meyeniana, Sida sertum, Sida diellii, Sida fallax var. kauaiensis, Sida ledyardii, Sida nelsonii, Sida rotundifolia
GBIF Accepted Name: Sida fallax Walp.