FNPS Plant Database

Hibiscus poeppigii

fairy hibiscus
  • 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:

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

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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

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.



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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:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Predominantly grown as a curiosity in the Florida Keys.

Citations:

Gann, G.D., C.J. Abbott, C.G. Stocking, K.N. Hines, and collaborators. (2001+), Natives For Your Neighborhood. ( https://www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp?tx=Hibipoep ). Accessed 2026. The Institute for Regional Conservation. Delray Beach, Florida.


Hammer, Roger. (2018). Complete Guide to Florida Wildflowers. Falcon Guides, Guilford, CT.


Osorio, Rufino. (2012). Hibiscus poeppigii – Fairy Hibiscus (blog post). ( https://rufino-osorio.blogspot.com/2012/06/hibiscus-poeppigii-fairy-hibiscus.html ). Accessed 2026.


Osorio, Rufino. (2001). A Gardener's Guide to Florida's Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


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