Hibiscus aculeatus

Photographs belong to the photographers who allow use for FNPS purposes only. Please contact the photographer for all other uses.

Pineland Hibiscus

Malvaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:Flower
Size:3 (6) ft tall by 3 ft wide
Life Span:Long-lived perennial
Flower Color:White
Fruit Color:Brown
Phenology:Winter dormant
Noted for:Showy flowers

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:Wet wildflower garden. For appearance, cut back to the ground in winter.
Propagation:Seed.
Availability:Seed
Light: Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance:
always floodedextremely dry
 (Stays Wet ----- to ----- Not wet but not extremely dry)
Moisture Tolerance: Stays Wet ----- to ----- Not wet but not extremely dry
Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Salt Spray/ Salty Soil Tolerance:Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
Soil or other substrate:Sand
Soil pH:Acidic

Ecology

Wildlife:
Insects:
   

  • Larval host of  Gray Hairstreak, Painted Lady Butterfly, Common Checkered Skipper and Tropical Checkered Skipper butterflies and  four moths : Pearly Wood Nymph, Yellow Scallop Moth, Io Moth,  and Delightful Bird-Dropping Moths.
  • Attracts butterflies and  native bees (including the Rose-mallow Bee which is a Hibiscus specialist), beetles, etc. 

 

Native Habitats:Moist sites. Hydric and mesic pine flatwoods, edges of sloughs, savannas, bogs, ditches.

Distribution and Planting Zones

Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones

Suitable to grow in:
8A 8B 9A 9B 

USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures

Comments

General Comments:Tolerates winter flooding.

This is a wetland plant. It is rarely grown, but it has potential in appropriate sites.