Northwest Blooms · Shrubs
Fremontodendron californicum 'Pacific Sunset'
Pacific Sunset Flannel Bush
- Family
- Malvaceae
- Height
- 10 to 15 feet
- Width
- 10 to 15 feet
- Flower color
- Large bright golden yellow saucer shaped flowers with numerous yellow stamens
- Foliage color
- Dark green to gray green leathery leaves with a softly felted underside
- Bloom time
- Mid spring to early summer
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Low; drought tolerant once established
- Maintenance
- Low; prune lightly after flowering to shape plants and avoid excess moisture around the roots
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 8 to 10
- Wildlife
- Bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects
About this plant
Fremontodendron californicum 'Pacific Sunset' produces large golden-yellow flowers in late spring through early summer, each bloom opening with broad petals surrounding a cluster of bright stamens. The blossoms appear freely along the branches, creating a vivid seasonal display. Evergreen leaves with softly lobed shapes and a velvety texture cover the stems, their gray-green surfaces giving the plant a soft, muted tone throughout the year.
This cultivar traces its heritage to Fremontodendron californicum native to California and parts of the American Southwest. In gardens it brings bold color and evergreen structure to borders and sunny landscapes where the brilliant spring flowers provide seasonal interest.
Works well in
Sun Gardens · Waterwise Gardens · Mediterranean Gardens · Pollinator Gardens
Companion plants
Catmint · Feather reed grass · Salvias · Coneflowers · Lavenders · Sedums
Design tip
The combination of brilliant golden flowers and muted gray-green foliage gives ‘Pacific Sunset’ a distinctly warm, dry-garden character. Use stone or gravel nearby to echo its native landscape origins and provide a simple setting for the large flowers and softly textured evergreen leaves.
