Native Plants
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Hibiscus laevis
Hibiscus laevis All.
Halberdleaf Rosemallow, Halberdleaf Hibiscus, Scarlet Rose Mallow, Halberd-leaved Hibiscus, Halberd-leaved Rose-mallow
Malvaceae (Mallow Family)
Synonym(s): Hibiscus militaris
USDA Symbol: HILA2
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)
The Halberd-leaved Rose-mallow grows to 6 feet tall with erect stems and leaves. The leaves are alternate and prominently lobed at the base, the lobes wide-spreading and sharp-toothed. Flowers bloom from the axils of the leaves, from the bottom to the top of the stem. The large cup-shaped blossoms, about 3 inches long, are pink, sometimes white, with maroon or purple throats. The 5 overlapping petals open by day and close tightly at night.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 6 feet tall, sometimes taller.
Leaf: Green
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: White , Red , PinkBloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov
Distribution
USA: AL , AR , DC , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MD , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NE , NY , OH , OK , PA , SC , TN , TX , VA , WI , WVNative Distribution: Moist low-lying areas from North Central Texas to the Edwards Plateau.
Native Habitat: Marshes
Growing Conditions
Water Use: HighLight Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay, Acid-based, Calcareous
Conditions Comments: The beautiful rose mallow attracts butterflies with its showy blossoms. This plant is related to okra; it has a gummy, slimy sap. Other members of the mallow family produce the sap that, when whipped with sugar, was the origin of our marshmallow candy. Scarlet rose mallow is good for wetland gardens and habitat.
Benefit
Use Ornamental: Perennial garden, Bog or pond area, Showy, Blooms ornamentalConspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Nectar Source: yes
Propagation
Propagation Material: SeedsSeed Collection: Collect seed in summer, when pods open.
Maintenance: Grows quickly in warm weather.
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | OBL | OBL | OBL | OBL | OBL |
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Austin, TX
Mt. Cuba Center - Hockessin, DE
Bibliography
Bibref 1620 - Gardening with Native Plants of the South (Reprint Edition) (2009) Wasowski, S. with A. WasowskiBibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Bibref 248 - Texas Wildflowers: A Field Guide (1984) Loughmiller, C. & L. Loughmiller
Search More Titles in Bibliography
Web Reference
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Hibiscus laevis in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Hibiscus laevis in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Hibiscus laevis
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-02-14Research By: TWC Staff, LAL