crimson-eyed rose-mallow

Plant Type

Herbaceous Wildflower

Life Cycle

Perennial

Typical Size

4-7 ft. tall
2-5 ft. wide

Tolerant of

Occasional Flooding

Inolerant of

Dry Soil

Propagation

By seed, By cutting, By division

Plant Propagation Notes

Easily grown from seed. Tip cuttings taken in early July root relatively easily.

Plant Planting Notes

Provide at least 4 feet of space, up to 7 feet for specimens.

Plants/Diseases

Japanese beetles can cause severe foliar damage if left unchecked. Some susceptibility to leaf spots or blights as well as common garden pests such as whitefly or aphids.

Wildlife Benefits

Nectar/pollen source for pollinating insects, Host plant for butterfly larvae, Nectar source for hummingbirds, Supports numerous caterpillars (bird food)

Leaves

Leaf blades alternate, narrowly to broadly lanceolate, finely hairy with dentate or serrate margins.

Flowers

Large saucer-shaped horizontal flowers with 4-5 petals, up to 6 inches across.

Fruit

one to 3 inch ovoid and hairy capsules approximately 1-1.25 inches long.

Bark

Stems glabrous or variously hairy.

Toxicity

No known toxicity.

USDA Hardiness Zones

5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Light Exposure

Full Sun, Part Sun/Shade

Soil Moisture

Moist

Soil Drainage

Well-drained, Poorly Drained

Soil pH

Acidic (less than 6.0)

Native in South Carolina?

Yes

Plant Native Habitat

marshes, swamps, river sandbars.

Global Conservation Status (NatureServe)

Secure (G5)

Federal Conservation Status (USFWS)

Not Listed

Distribution Notes

Native throughout South Carolina

Subspecies

Hibiscus moscheutos subsp. lasiocarpos
Hibiscus moscheutos subsp. moscheutos