Description
Hibiscus – Giant Mallow – Mallow – Rose Mallow –
There are about 220 species of deciduous and evergreen shrubs, trees, annuals and herbaceous perennials, in this genus. They are widely distributed in warm temperate, subtropical and tropical regions, where they occur in a variety of habitats, including stream side, moist woodland, and dry, rocky sites. They have alternate, smooth edged or shallowly to palmately lobed, sometimes toothed leaves, and are grown for their showy, 5 petaled, mainly funnel shaped, held solitary or in clusters, borne over a long period from spring to autumn. The flowers are red, pink, purple, blue, yellow or white and sometimes have contrasting marks at the bases of the petals, and prominent, colorful stamens. Grow in a sunny mixed, herbaceous, or shrub border. Some perennials may be grown as annuals or hedges.
Outdoors, grows in humus rich, moist but well drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil in full sun. Hibiscus need long, hot summers to flower well. Trim after flowering to maintain shape. Most are drought and frost tender.
Prone to rust, fungal leaf spots, bacterial blight, Verticillium wilt, viruses, stem rots, root rots, whiteflies, aphids, mealybugs, scale insects, mites, Japanese beetles, and caterpillars.
H. mosheutos – Common Rose Mallow – Swamp Rose Mallow – This strong growing, woody based, herbaceous perennial Native to Southern USA grows 8′ feet tall and 3-5′ feet wide. From erect stems it carries broadly ovate to lance shaped, unlobed or shallowly 3 50 5 lobed, toothed, mid green leaves, 3-9″ long, white hairy beneath. Widely funnel shaped flowers, to 8″ across, with spreading petals, are white, pink, or crimson, sometimes with crimson petal bases, and held singly in summer.
Disco Belle Series– cultivars are compact perennials growing 20″ tall, often grown as annuals and bears red, pink , or white flowers, to 9″ across.
Zones 5-10
