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Hibiscus laevis Allioni. Section: Muenchhusia. Common name: Smooth Rose-mallow, Halberd-leaved Marsh-mallow, Showy Hibiscus. Phenology: Jun-Aug (-Nov); Aug-Oct (-Dec). Habitat: Freshwater marshes, exposed riverbanks, sandbars. Distribution: S. PA south to FL Panhandle, west to TX; north in the interior to around the Great Lakes.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, Can, Fl4, FNA6, GrPl, Il, K4, Mi, Mo3, NcTx, NS, NY, Pa, POWO, Tn, Va, W, WH3; = Hibiscus militaris Cav. — F, G, GW2, RAB, S, S13, Tx, WV; = n/a — Tat. Basionym: Hibiscus laevis All. 1773

Links to other floras: = Hibiscus laevis - FNA6

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL
  • Great Plains: OBL
  • Midwest: OBL
  • Northcentral & Northeast: OBL

Heliophily ⓘ: 8

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image of plant© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Aidan Campos source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Aidan Campos source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Aidan Campos source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Radford, Ahles and Bell | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Tall, shrublike perennial of freshwater marshes, exposed river banks and sandbars.

Stems: Stems few to many arising from a crown, unbranched, smooth.

Leaves: Leaves alternate, long-petioled, arrowhead-shaped to lance-shaped and usually with 2 lobes at the base, to 6 in. long, with toothed margins and smooth.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers solitary on stalks arising from upper leaf axils; pink or white with a maroon center; to 5 in. wide; funnel-shaped; consisting of 5 wide, veiny petals and a central tube of fused, reddish stamens surrounding the pistil. The flower rests on a whorl of green, linear bracts.

Fruits:

Comments:

Height: 2-11 ft.

plant sale text: This species was given its common name because of the resemblance of its leaves to the halberd, an ancient long-handled battle-ax. Its flowers are typically 2 to 4 inches across, pink or occasionally white, with a maroon center. Though it has the look of a tropical flower, this species is hardy to Zone 4.This species is an excellent food source for butterflies. It is usually found growing in alluvial marches and along rivers and streams. It would grow well planted at the edge of a pond, or in average soil with adequate moisture.

bloom table text:

description: Tall, shrublike perennial of freshwater marshes, exposed river banks and sandbars.

stems: Stems few to many arising from a crown, unbranched, smooth.

leaves: Leaves alternate, long-petioled, arrowhead-shaped to lance-shaped and usually with 2 lobes at the base, to 6 in. long, with toothed margins and smooth.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers solitary on stalks arising from upper leaf axils; pink or white with a maroon center; to 5 in. wide; funnel-shaped; consisting of 5 wide, veiny petals and a central tube of fused, reddish stamens surrounding the pistil. The flower rests on a whorl of green, linear bracts.

fruits:

comments:

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: central to eastern US



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