Intro: Large, upright perennial from semi-woody root crown, found in marshes, swamp forests, roadside swales.

Stems: Stems may be branched in upper portion, smooth.

Leaves: Leaves alternate, petiolate, round but palmately divided into 3-7 narrow segments that are shallowly toothed to entire and smooth.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers solitary on stalks arising from upper leaf axils; deep red; 6 in. wide; widely funnel-shaped; consisting of 5 slightly creased, spreading, spoon-shaped petals and a central column of red stamens and style, all surrounded by 5 shorter, long-pointed sepals.

Fruits: Fruit an oval, 5-sectioned capsule with blunt tip and bumpy surface.

Comments: Cultivated as an ornamental; in much of our area presumably introduced from farther south, but sometimes appearing native.

Height: 4-7 ft.

plant sale text: Elegant scarlet flowers are very attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. Scarlet rose-mallow adds a lush, tropical look to North Carolina landscapes. However, this vigorous and sturdy southeastern native perennial is perfectly hardy here. Grow scarlet rose-mallow as a focal point in the garden. This showy herbaceous perennial grows more shrublike and produces more flowers as it matures. Try growing this plant in your perennial border or at the edge of a pond. The Hibiscus genus supports up to 18 lepidoptera species.

bloom table text:

description: Large, upright perennial from semi-woody root crown, found in marshes, swamp forests, roadside swales.

stems: Stems may be branched in upper portion, smooth.

leaves: Leaves alternate, petiolate, round but palmately divided into 3-7 narrow segments that are shallowly toothed to entire and smooth.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers solitary on stalks arising from upper leaf axils; deep red; 6 in. wide; widely funnel-shaped; consisting of 5 slightly creased, spreading, spoon-shaped petals and a central column of red stamens and style, all surrounded by 5 shorter, long-pointed sepals.

fruits: Fruit an oval, 5-sectioned capsule with blunt tip and bumpy surface.

comments: Cultivated as an ornamental; in much of our area presumably introduced from farther south, but sometimes appearing native.

cultural notes: William Bartram, son of the famous plant recorder John Bartram, recorded observations of this stately plant in 1773 in Florida where he was struck by its beauty and commanding presence. This plant is a native of the southeastern U. S., where it grows 10-12 feet tall and blooms from late July through September. The palmately divided leaves of this 4-7 ft. rose-mallow are palmately cut and shiny. It grows well in a sunny area where it receives full sun and plenty of moisture. In it's natural habitiat it is found in Swamp, marshes & ditches of the coastal plain. Certainly this is one our more fabulous, even exotic looking native plants.

germination code: 3

native range: GA, FL & AL