Let’s play “guess the family:”
I know… too easy. This thing is obviously a hibiscus of some sort. If you’ve ever grown a tropical hibiscus or owned a Hawaiian shirt, this flower is familiar to you. Its Latin name is Hibiscus coccineus.
Unlike the standard hibiscus, though, the scarlet rose mallow (also known as swamp hibiscus) has palmate leaves and like swampy locations. Roadside ditches are perfect for this plant, as are pond margins.
Native plant nurseries like Taylor Gardens Nursery and The Potter’s Bench (Look for Connie at the 326 Community Market) are good places to find this plant. I should have a few in my nursery before too long. I concentrate on edibles but really like this plant.
I know, liking ornamentals is a sign of weakness.
The blooms are large and ephemeral, only sticking around for one glorious day.
Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find out if this particular mallow is edible. Whatever it is, the butterflies sure like it:
A scarlet rose mallow with a visiting zebra longwing
You can have greener thumbs by this weekend!
5 comments
Growing ornamentals is not a sign of weakness. It's a sign that you are a good steward of your land, because you are feeding pollinators toxin-free food, which means they will be alive to pollinate your edibles.
One of my favorite flowers. I have been pollinating mine and collecting seed pods-have some to share if you want them. They seem to take forever to germinate but stratifying them may be the ticket to a quicker result.
from http://onlineathens.com/stories/072510/liv_682592937.shtml
Additionally, two North American native Hibiscus plants share the culinary uses of rose of Sharon's flower. Swamp-rose (Hibiscus moscheutos) and swamp hibiscus (H. coccineus) – which both display stunning, hummingbird-attracting blooms of red, pink, cream or white – are commercially available, and add a vivid splash of color to teas and salads. The flowers contain antioxidants and can have a soothing effect on the nerves.
Although the leaves are edible, they aren't quite as palatable as the rose of Sharon.
Excellent find, Anonymous – thank you!
[…] Scarlet Rose Mallow (Hibiscus coccineus), though not edible, has made the list for being a beautiful plant to have amongst the mix. It’s a type of hibiscus, so the flowers have amazing blooms (a la a Hawaiian shirt) and aroma to match. They are perennial shrubs that keep bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds coming back. […]
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