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Native Plants of the Southeast

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Hibiscus coccineus
Scarlet Rosemallow, Red Hibiscus, Swamp Hibiscus, Texas Star Hibiscus, Crimson Rosemallow, Wild Red Mallow

Photo by i_am_jim

Although Scarlet Rosemallow in nature grows in wet places (the Wetland Indicator Status is “Obligate”), this herbaceous perennial thrives in upland gardens, and should be invited to do so! Adjectives such as “statuesque” and “architectural” come to mind. If given a sufficiently large sunny space, Rosemallow will express its full natural form with several sturdy upright stems up to 8 feet tall when mature, bearing dark green, palmately 3-5-lobed, marijuana look-alike leaves and stunning, 6-inch, deeply red blooms. The flowers are both vibrantly red and delicate, with exserted, showy stamens. They last but a day — but new buds continue to open daily over a long bloom season, late summer/early fall. Found in ditches and wet habitats in coastal plane Virginia to Florida and over to Louisiana and Arkansas.

Last Updated: June 17, 2019

Key Info

Scientific Name: Hibiscus coccineus Walter
Common Names: Scarlet Rosemallow, Red Hibiscus, Swamp Hibiscus, Texas Star Hibiscus, Crimson Rosemallow, Wild Red Mallow
Family Name: Malvaceae (Mallow Family)
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Uses: Perennial Border, Specimen, Butterfly garden, Pond side
Light Requirement: Full sun, Partial/sunny
Moisture Requirement: Wet, Moist well drained
Bloom Times: Jul, Aug, Sep
Flower Color: Deep red
Special Characteristics: Attracts bees, Attracts butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Tolerates wet conditions, Showy fruit, Reported to be deer resistant.

Additional Info

Habit: Many upright stems, mostly unbranched, from central crown; no basal rosette
Height: 4'-8'
Spread: 4'
Growth Rate: Moderate
Soil Conditions: Moist to wet; silty sand, loamy, organic, clay
Leaves: Hemp-like leaves are palmately compound with 3, 5 or 7 leaflets, deep green, (5-6" wide) with long petioles and pointy tips.
Flowers (or reproductive structures): Bright scarlet-red flowers 3-6" in diameter are borne in the axils of upper leaves. The flowers have five ribbed petals and a prominent center staminal column. Each flower persists only one day, but flowers continue to open daily over a long, mid-summer-to-early-fall bloom period.
Fruit: 3-4 weeks after flowering, large green seed pods ripen into brown, papery, capsules containing many bb-sized, round seeds
Natural Distribution: Marshes, swamp forests, roadside swale and ditches, along streams.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 6 to 9
USDA Wetland Indicator Status in NC: OBL
Pollination: Bees, butterflies, other insects; hummingbirds
Wildlife Connections: Blooms provide nectar to a variety of pollinators including the specialist Rose Mallow Bee and Ruby Throated Hummingbirds. Plants host caterpillars of gray hairstreak, painted lady butterflies and several moths and skippers (New Moon)
Cultural Notes: Scarlet Hibiscus is slow to emerge in spring. Stems should be cut to the ground in late winter, if the seed heads are to be left to support birds in winter.
Downside: Scarlet Rosemallow has no serious insect or disease problems.
Propagation: Scarlet Rosemallow is grown from seed.
USDA/NRCS Plant Distribution Map: View Map at USDA.gov

Availability

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Who we are

Cure Nursery is a small nursery propagating and selling native plants for the Southeastern U.S. We are located near the town of Pittsboro, Chatham County, in central NC.

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