Kosteletzkya pentacarpos (L.) Ledeb.

Southern Seashore Mallow; Virginia Fen Rose; Virginia Saltmarsh Mallow

Shrub

Perennial

Vascular

Southern Seashore Mallow is a native herbaceous perennial in the Mallow family (Malvaceae). It can be found in coastal areas of Alabama. Southern Seashore Mallow grows on the banks of salt or brackish marshes, along slow streams, in sloughs, and in wet roadside ditches. It is a short-lived perennial. Several stems develop from each root crown. The stems are erect, green in color, 3-6 feet in height, and pubescent with stellate and simple hairs. The stems have short side branches in the upper half. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, hastate to ovate in shape, pubescent with simple and stellate hairs, with bluntly serrate margins. Flowers are solitary in the axils of the upper leaves. There are 8-10 linear bracts below the calyx. Flowers have a green calyx with 5 lobes and 5 pink (rarely white) petals. The stamens form a tubular column around the style. The fruit is a 5-angled, pubescent capsule with reddish-brown slightly curved seed. Southern Seashore Mallow is available as either plants or seed from native plant nurseries. It prefers an organic rich soil that is constantly wet and full sun. It can be used around ponds or pools, and in rain gardens.—A. Diamond

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Native S1? (State Rank) G1G3Q (Global Rank)

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