Hibiscus moscheutos
(sold as Aquarian)
Family: Malvaceae
Common names: GIANT MALLOW COMMON ROSE MALLOW, MALLOW, ROSE MALLOW, SWAMP ROSE MALLOW
Native to: Southern United States
Sentiment: delicate beauty
Plant
Type: perennial
Forms: clumping, erect, open form
Leaves deciduous
Max height: 6.6 feet
Max width: 4.5 feet
Flower
pink, secondary color present
Leaf
green
Horticulture
Attracts wildlife: adult butterfly, hummingbird, specific butterfly species
Plant part consumed by birds: nectar
Plant features: deciduous
Exposure: sun
Propagates by: seed
flowers in summer
Soil type: loam
USDA Zones: zone 5 to -20 f, zone 6 to -10 f, zone 7 to 0 f, zone 8 to +10 f, zone 9 to +20 f, zone 10 to +30 f
Temp. range: -20 to +40 °F
Water: regular
apical
branch
branch
Hibiscus attracts 23 butterflies. This one is native to several eastern states in the U.S and is one of the few native plants that has this particular floral structure. Butterflies are creatures of habit, and once they figure out how to feed on such a plant, will come back to it again and again. If you live in the range of one of the butterflies listed here, you might want to put this plant in your garden.
A Creative Commons image of the blossom is shown here.
