Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
Nomenclature
Common Name:
fairy hibiscus
Synonym(s):
Genus species:
Hibiscus poeppigii
Family:
Malvaceae
Plant Specifics
Form:
flower
Size:
1-4 ft tall by 1-3 ft wide
Life Span:
Long-lived perennial
Flower Color:
red
Fruit Color:
NA
Phenology:
Noted For:
Showy Flowers
Landscaping
Recommended Uses:
Wildflower gardens. Hammock restoration.
Considerations:
Availability:
Seed
Propagation:
Seed.
Light:
Part Sun, Shade
Moisture Tolerance:
Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry
Coming Soon!
Usually moist, occasional inundation ---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, Lime Rock
Soil pH:
Calcareous (high pH)
Suitable to Grow In:
10B,11
Ecology
Wildlife:
Pollinators, Butterflies, Caterpillars, Hummingbirds
- 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.
- Ants feed on the flower nectar (per Institute for Regional Conservation ).
Attracts hummingbirds.
Native Habitats:
Edges of rockland hammocks.
Natural Range in Florida:
Visit the USF Libraries Atlas of Florida Plants
Comments:
Ethnobotany:
General Comments:
Predominantly grown as a curiosity in the Florida Keys.
