Hibiscus coccineus or scarlet rose mallow has large crimson flowers and leaves very similar to Marijuana (Cannabis), which can easily confuse curious onlookers.
- Flowers attract hummingbirds
- Thrives in wet soil
- Easy to grow
Details
- 5 to 8 feet tall and wide
- Fast-growing and long-lived perennial
- Plants lose their leaves and go dormant in the fall
- New growth emerges in mid-spring from a thick woody rootstock
- Hardy in USDA hardiness zones 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10
Flowering period
In central North Carolina, flowering starts in late July and can continue into October.
How to grow
For strong growth and plenty of flowers, give Scarlet Rose Mallow full sun and grow in fertile, moist soil. In drier sites, add organic matter and water during dry spells. Will tolerate periodic drought in heavier soil.
Care and maintenance
Keep watered to promote a strong root system while plants get established. Cut the thick woody stems down to ground level before growth begins in spring.
Where to plant
Plant at the edges of ponds and in ditches, rain gardens, and flower beds.
When to plant
In the South, plant Scarlet Rose Mallow anytime throughout the growing season. It grows fastest during the hot, long days of summer. In Northern areas plant in spring or early summer to get plants established before winter arrives.
When will my plant flower?
When planted before June, they will bloom their first year if planted in a fertile, well-prepared site and kept watered.
Native habitat and range
Marshes, swamp forests, and roadside ditches. Southeast North Carolina (where it may have been introduced) south into Florida and across to Alabama.
Source and Origin
Plants were grown from seed collected along the edge on a swamp forest in Brunswick County, North Carolina.
| States | Orders up to $50 | Orders $51 to $100 | Orders over $100 |
| AL, DE, GA, KY, MD, NC, OH, PA, SC, TN, VA, and WV | $16 | $18 | $20 |
| AR, CT, FL, IL, IN, LA, MA, MI, MO, MS, NH, NJ, NY, RI, VT, and WI | $18 | $20 | $22 |
| IA, KS, ME, MN, OK, and TX | $20 | $22 | $24 |
| CO, NE, ND, and SD | $22 | $24 | $26 |
Sorry, we can't ship plants outside of the continental United States or to AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, NM, NV, OR, UT, and WA due to agriculture restrictions.
When will my order be shipped?All plants are shipped within two weeks of placing an order.
Is it okay to plant in the winter?Yes, as long as the soil is not frozen. Planting native perennials in winter and early spring gives your plants a head start before the summer heat arrives.
What if it’s too cold to plant where I live, but I want to buy a plant before it sells out?Dormant plants can safely be kept in a basement, garage, or cool room until you are ready to plant in late winter or early spring.
How will my plants get delivered?Most orders are shipped on Monday or Tuesday via UPS Ground, which depending on the destination takes between 1 to 4 days.
Are your plants shipped in their containers?Yes, all our plants are shipped in their growing containers. The majority are grown in containers that are 4.5 inches wide by 5 inches deep and 32 fl. oz. / 946 ml in volume.
Do you guarantee your plants?We guarantee our plants to be healthy, ready for planting and correctly named. We are not able to guarantee whether a plant will grow in your garden as there are too many circumstances that are beyond our control.
On rare occasions, a plant shipped dormant may fail to emerge from its dormancy. If this happens, please let us know. If you are concerned about a plant, please contact us within 14 days to let us know. If we can’t help you make it grow, we’ll send you a new plant or issue a refund.
You can return your plants if you no longer want them once they arrive. To receive a refund (minus 20% restocking fee) the plants must be returned in good condition. Return shipping is the customer’s responsibility.
Can I cancel my order?Yes, you can cancel your order. Please visit our terms and service page for details.
What about sales tax?We propagate our own plants and are not required to collect North Carolina sales tax.
Where can I find information about your plants?Here are some FAQ on how we grow plants.
