Hibiscus grandiflorus Michx.

Large Flower Hibiscus; Swamp Rose Mallow

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Large Flower Hibiscus is a native herbaceous perennial in the Hibiscus family (Malvaceae). It is found in coastal Alabama. Large Flower Hibiscus occurs around ponds and lakes, along rivers and streams, around brackish and freshwater marshes, and along canals. It is a perennial with a woody crown. Several stems 5-9 feet in height are produced from each crown. The stems are usually unbranched, green or reddish in color, and pubescent with star shaped hairs. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, ovate or 3-lobed in outline, with crenate margins. The leaves are densely pubescent on both surfaces with stellate trichomes. Flowers are solitary from the axils of the upper leaves. Each flower has a pubescent pedicel, 10 linear bracts about half the length of the calyx, and a green calyx with 5 triangular lobes. The flowers are funnelform with 5 pink petals. The petals are reddish at the base. The numerous stamens are fused with the style. The fruit is a pubescent capsule surrounded by the remnants of the calyx. Large Flower Hibiscus is available from some nurseries or can be grown from seeds or cuttings. It prefers a moist or wet organic rich soil in full sun.—A. Diamond

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Native OBL (NWPL) S? (State Rank) G4 (Global Rank)

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