Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

pineland hibiscus

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Hibiscus aculeatus

Family:

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.

Considerations:

Availability:

Seed

Propagation:

Seed.

Light:

Full Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Stays wet ---to--- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

Acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Butterflies, Caterpillars



  • 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.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Tolerates winter flooding.



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