Hibiscus coccineus: Rose Mallow

Latin name: Hibiscus coccineus
Common name: Scarlet Rosemallow
Flowers: Showy red 5-petal flowers¹²
Fruit: Insignificant¹²
Height & Width: 3-6’ x 2-3’¹²
Type: Herbaceous perennial¹²
Habit: Herb¹⁶
Wetland indicator category**: OBL 13¹⁷
Texture: Medium¹⁶
Growth rate: Vigorous¹²
Light: Full sun⁴
Moisture: Medium to wet⁴
Soil: Wet soil, tolerates poor drainage¹³
Zones: 6-9¹²
Origin: Eastern United States¹³
Features: 6-8” wide, brilliant red flowers, with petals more separated than those of other hibiscus, giving the blossom a star shaped look. Individual flowers last only a days but new blooms open throughout summer and fall.⁴

Siting: Prefers full sun and moist soil. Occurs naturally in swamps, marshes and ditches and will tolerate some flooding but will also grow well in ordinary soil.⁴

Care: Plant in suitable site with adequate soil organic matter so that the crown of the plant is at the soil surface^18. Ensure the soil is adequately moist immediately after planting. Keep soil moist but not soggy until plant is established. Once plant is established water deeply but infrequently whenever the soil surface is dry or almost dry 2” below the soil surface.¹⁸

Pests: Southern Stem Blight and leaf spot from several fungi affect this plant and insect pests include; Aphids, Whiteflies and Japanese Beetles⁴

Author: Susie Lombardo, Editor: Alexander Smolka

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