Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

halberd-leaf rosemallow

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Hibiscus laevis

Family:

Malvaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

flower

Size:

4-6 ft

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white,pink

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

Winter dormant. Flowers in summer.

Noted For:

Showy Flowers

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Background screen in wet garden

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Seed

Propagation:

Seed

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

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

Coming Soon!

Aquatic ---to--- Somewhat moist, no flooding

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, Loam, Organic

Soil pH:

Circum neutral

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B

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. 


Attracts pollinators.  Bees are especially important for fertilization.

Native Habitats:

Wet sites. Floodplains, riverbanks.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

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