Scarlet Rose Mallow (Hibiscus coccineus) Has Showy Scarlet Flowers

Summary: Scarlet rose mallow (Hibiscus coccineus) has showy scarlet flowers that bloom repeatedly through the summer and into autumn.

Hibiscus coccineus, Ocala National Forest, St. John's River north of Astor; photo by Susan Blake/US Forest Service: US Forest Service/National Forests in Florida, Public Domain, via Flickr

New World native flowering plant scarlet rose mallow (Hibiscus coccineus) has showy scarlet flowers that color summer and early autumn landscapes with successive blooms.

Hibiscus coccineus is native to nine states in the southeastern United States. The vividly flowering perennial claims homelands from Florida northeastward through Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia, as well as northwestward through Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas.

Wetlands, such as ditches, marshes and swamps, are natural habitats for Hibiscus coccineus. Other native settings include the banks of ponds, rivers and streams. Hibiscus coccineus prefers moist soils but also accepts ordinary garden soil as well as soils that are somewhat dry.

Sites with full sun are desirable locations, but Hibiscus coccineus tolerates partial shade. Fully shaded sites may result in floppy, leafless, leggy stems and sparse flowers.

The species name, coccineus, points to the flowering plant’s vibrantly red-shaded blooms. Coccineus is a Latin adjective meaning “colored or dyed scarlet.”

Scarlet rose mallow, the most popular common name for Hibiscus coccineus, reflects floral coloring, the genus’ common name of rose mallow and membership in the mallow family, Malvaceae. Another common name is scarlet hibiscus. The common names of scarlet swamp hibiscus and swamp hibiscus acknowledge one of the New World native’s commonest habitats. Texas Star is another common name, even though Hibiscus coccineus is not native to Texas.

Erect, tall stems range in height from 3 to 8 feet (0.91 to 2.43 meters). Spread, which measures about half the height, ranges from 2 to 4 feet (0.6 to 1.21 meters).

Elegant, large, green leaves are arranged alternately along the stem. Leaves appear palmately (Latin: palmatus, “hand-shaped) as three to five lance-shaped, pointed leaflets. Leaflet edges are serrated.

Each of scarlet rose mallow’s conspicuous, large flowers opens atop a reddish-tinged, green floral stalk known as a peduncle (Latin: pedunculus, diminutive of pes, “foot”). The axillary peduncle grows out from an upper axil, the junction between upper leaves and upper stems.

Flowers usually have dramatic scarlet coloring. Hibiscus coccineus ‘Alba’ is a variety with pure white flowers.

Scarlet rose mallow usually puts forth solitary flowers, with their funnel form deeply cut by five petals. Less often, a bloom is a double flower, with extra petals.

Scarlet rose mallow experiences a lengthy flowering period as a repeat bloomer. Each flower blooms for one day. A succession of blooms lasts throughout summer, beginning as early as June, and continues into autumn, usually ceasing to bloom after September.

Scarlet rose mallow’s flowers characteristically exude no noticeable fragrance. Flowering plants in the Hibiscus genus are sometimes described as paper flowers because of no detectable floral scent.

A persistent calyx subtends scarlet rose mallow’s fruits. Calyx (Ancient Greek: κάλυξ, “husk, outer covering, seed pod") is the botanical term for the flower’s sepals, the outermost whorl of floral parts.

Fruits have elongated shapes, with lengths of one-half to 2 inches (1.27 to 5.08 centimeters). The five-chambered capsules turn from youthful green to brown at maturity. The dehiscent (Latin: dehiscere, “to split open”) capsules burst open to release seeds.

Gardeners, landscapers, master gardeners and master naturalists appreciate the colorful appeal bestowed upon private and public spaces by scarlet rose mallow. As a tall perennial with attractive, conspicuous flowers, Hibiscus coccineus assumes vivid placement in such landscapes as courtyards, perennial borders, pond or stream edges and rain gardens. Scarlet rose mallow shows especially well as a patio border and in containers.

Scarlet rose mallow vibrantly participates in all landscapes that feature the New World native flowering plant. An elegant contrast may be achieved through mixed plantings of scarlet rose mallow’s scarlet norm with its white-flowered variety.

closeup of scarlet rose mallow's calyx with subtended fruit, Botanische Tuin TU Delft (Botanical Garden Delft University of Technology), Delft, South Holland province, western Netherlands: Hans B.~commonswiki, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Hibiscus coccineus, Ocala National Forest, St. John’s River north of Astor; photo by Susan Blake/US Forest Service: US Forest Service/National Forests in Florida, Public Domain, via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/nfinflorida/19095877021/

closeup of scarlet rose mallow's calyx with subtended fruit; Botanische Tuin TU Delft (Botanical Garden Delft University of Technology), Delft, South Holland province, western Netherlands: Hans B.~commonswiki, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hibiscus_coccineus3.jpg?uselang=fr6

For further information:

Aniśko, Tomasz. When Perennials Bloom: An Almanac for Planning and Planting. Portland OR; London, UK: Timber Press, 2008.

Christmas, Steve. “Hibiscus coccineus.” Floridata Plant Encyclopedia > Plants > Malvaceae.
Available @ http://www.floridata.com/Plants/Malvaceae/Hibiscus%20coccineus/491

Gilman, Edward F. “Hibiscus coccineus Scarlet Rose Mallow, Texas Star Hibiscus, Swamp Hibiscus.” University of Florida IFAS Extension > Shrubs Fact Sheets > Malvaceae (taxonomic family) > Hummingbird Plants and Trees. October 1999. Reviewed February 2014.
Available @ http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fp253

“Hibiscus coccineus.” Missouri Botanical Garden > Gardens & Gardening > Your Garden > Plant Finder. Aug. 18, 1997. Last updated July 16, 2016.
Available @ http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=d270

“Hibiscus coccineus Alba.” Plant World Seeds.
Available @ http://www.plant-world-seeds.com/store/view_seed_item/2744

“Hibiscus coccineus Scarlet Rosemallow Overview.” Encyclopedia of Life.
Available @ http://eol.org/pages/584778/overview

“Hibiscus coccineus Walter scarlet rosemallow.” USDA NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service) PLANTS Database > Plants Profile.
Available @ http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=HICO2

Knox, Gary W., and Rick Schoellhorn. “Hardy Hibiscus for Florida Landscapes.” University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) Extension/Electronic Data Information Source (EDIS). October 2005. Last reviewed February 2014. Available @ http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep245

Richey, Holli. “Eat your rose of Sharon, hibiscus, hollyhocks.” Athens Banner-Herald > Urban Forager. July 25, 2010.
Available @ http://onlineathens.com/stories/072510/liv_682592937.shtml#.V9glavkrLcs

Russ, Karen. “Hibiscus.” Clemson University > Cooperative Extension > Home & Garden Information Center (HGIC) > Landscape, Garden & Indoor Plants > Landscape Plants & Lawns > Flowers. December 2004. Last updated September 2007.
Available @ http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/landscape/flowers/hgic1179.html

“Scarlet Rose Mallow (Hibiscus coccineus).” National Gardening Association > Plant Database.
Available @ http://garden.org/plants/view/76940/Scarlet-Rose-Mallow-Hibiscus-coccineus/