Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

swamp mallow, swamp hibiscus, swamp rosemallow

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Hibiscus moscheutos

Family:

Malvaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

flower

Size:

2-6 ft tall by 2-4 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white,pink

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

winter dormant

Noted For:

Showy Flowers

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Use in moist areas as a wildflower. It is semi-woody, and if given adequate moisture can be a specimen plant.

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Seed

Propagation:

Seed. Tip cuttings taken in early summer root readily with adequate moisture.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

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

Coming Soon!

Stays wet ---to--- Somewhat moist, no flooding

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Organic

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. 


Pollinated by bees, especially bumblebees and solitary anthophorid bees ( Ptilithrix bombiformis ).  Butterflies are attracted to the nector.

Native Habitats:

Wet sites. Wet pine flatwoods, edges of sloughs, swamps, bogs, brackish and freshwater marshes and ditches.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

The stems become slimy when cooked and can be whipped into a fluffy consistency (like egg whites). This was mixed with sugar and used as a delivery system for bad tasting medicines. These were the original "marshmallows."

General Comments: