Common Rose Mallow

Hibiscus moscheutos Malvaceae

Other names

Swamp Rose Mallow

Growth habit

Herbaceous

Perennation

Long-lived polycarpic perennial

Native distribution

Southern USA

Location

Bioswale Garden

Source of plant

RareFIND Nursery, Plant Collections Consortium, KY

Description

Robust, woody-based perennial herb to 2.5m; stems few to many, remotely to densly stellate-pubescent. Leaves 8-22cm, broadly ovate or lanceolate, unlobed or shallowly 3- or 5- lobed, green above, white-pubescent beneath, serrate to crenate; petioles 3-15cm. Flowers solitary, axillary; pedicels adnate to petioles at base; epicalyx segments 10-15, 1.5-3cm, lanceolate-linear; calyx 2-3.5cm, slightly enlarged in fruit; petals 8-10cm, white, pink or rose, base sometimes crimson. Capsule 2-3.5cm, ovoid, abruptly contracted to a beak, glabrous; seeds globose to pyriform, dark brown, papillose.

USDA Hardiness Zone

5