Hibiscus grandiflorus, Swamp Rosemallow

Description

Hibiscus grandiflorus is an awesome North American native hibiscus with felty grey leaves on 8' stalks, topped with 10" light pink flowers with a central red eye in late summer. This amazing native mallow can only be found in a few remaining sites of coastal brackish marsh sites north of the center of distribution in Florida, so it's obviously tough as nails. The need for conservation of this structural marvel is quite high. Bees are the top pollinator in season, but in winter, we (and the birds) enjoy the dramatic hairy seed pods perched atop the sturdy old stalks. Who needs toilet paper by the outhouse, when you've got a couple of velvet mallows?

Maintenance:

Other than removing the old stalks in late winter, there isn't much maintenance needed for H. grandiflorus. Because of its resistance to the dreaded Hibiscus sawfly, you won't find shredded foliage or the need to spray. You'll probably have a few seed to drop around the garden, but we've never found this to be a problem, since there are always friends to share the new babies.

Growing Conditions:

Being native to salt marshes, speaks to the water/flooding tolerance of this Hibiscus plant. Surprisingly, it also performs admirably in typical garden soils, as well as during fairly extended droughts. While flowering and size will be less than in ideal conditions, velvet mallow is truly hard to kill. Although, velvet mallow has a preference for full sun, it's also quite tolerant of part sun, open shade conditions as well.

Natural Impact:

Native bees are the top pollinator you'll observe on H. grandiflorus during the summer flowering season.

Pot Size:

6" (trade gallon) pot (about 3 qt)