Swamp Rose Mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos)

$5.00
Out of Stock

You have to love the tropical look of Hibiscus and Swamp Rose Mallow does not disappoint. The big flowers attract bumblebees, long-tongued bees, and the specialist bee, Rose-mallow Bee (illinoiswildflower.info). It is also a host plant to possibly the Painted Lady and 19 other butterflies and moths in this area (nwf.org) (illinoiswildflower.info). Another nectar-seeking visitor is the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, which is always a joy to see in the garden. The dead, pithy stems provide insect habitat over winter (Johnson and Colla, 2023).

Photo credit: Andrew Cannizzaro

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You have to love the tropical look of Hibiscus and Swamp Rose Mallow does not disappoint. The big flowers attract bumblebees, long-tongued bees, and the specialist bee, Rose-mallow Bee (illinoiswildflower.info). It is also a host plant to possibly the Painted Lady and 19 other butterflies and moths in this area (nwf.org) (illinoiswildflower.info). Another nectar-seeking visitor is the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, which is always a joy to see in the garden. The dead, pithy stems provide insect habitat over winter (Johnson and Colla, 2023).

Photo credit: Andrew Cannizzaro

Life Cycle: Perennial 

Sun Exposure: Full, Partial

Soil Moisture: Wet, Medium-wet

Height: 3-5 feet

Plant Spacing:  2-3 feet

Bloom Time: July-September

Bloom Color: White, Pink

Advantages: Caterpillar Favorite, Bird Favorite, Deer Resistant

Host: Possibly the Painted Lady and 19 other species of butterflies and moths use this as a caterpillar host plant in our area (nwf.org) (illinoiswildflower.info)

Specialist Bee: Rose-mallow Bee (Ptilothrix bombiformis) (illinoiswildflower.info)

Resource: Johnson, Lorraine, and Sheila Colla. A Northern Gardener’s Guide to Native Plants and Pollinators: Creating Habitat in the Northeast, Great Lakes, and Upper Midwest. Island Press, 2023

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