UF/IFAS Okeechobee Extension

Recently, while traveling through our community, I noticed that a beautiful summer flowering shrub is now brightening up our natural wetlands. Swamp Hibiscus is a native plant that grows well in wet areas, and it’s pretty pink blossoms are noticed in the summer around ponds, canals, and sloughs in the South, from Texas to Georgia, and throughout the Sunshine State.

Some wetland plants are known to many people - plants like elderberry and the many bulrushes - which indicate naturally soggy spots. Others like Swamp Hibiscus are seen but not as well known, and rarely make it into a cultivated setting. While it’s not as refined as its cultivated "Chinese Hibiscus" cousin, this wetland plant could brighten up a summer "aquascape" with little care.

There is a lot of information on cultivated Hibiscus, but there is little that has been written about the Swamp Hibiscus, which is sometimes called Velvet Mallow or Big Rose-mallow. Hibiscus grandiflorus, as it is known to botanists, grows as a multi-stemmed shrub that reaches to six foot heights, and often a bit taller.

Swamp Hibiscus leaves measure 4 to 7 inches long and wide, and are sometimes three-lobed, giving them a maple leaf appearance. Both top and bottom leaf surfaces are covered with a fine fuzz. The edge of the leaves is ragged like a saw blade.

From late spring through the summer, near the top of the fuzzy-covered woody stems, individual flowers appear. Five pale pink colored petals grow together from a darker rose or purple colored throat at the base of the flower. Blooms measure six or more inches across, and may produce one inch long seed capsules that look a bit like short okra pods. (Hibiscus are, after all, in the okra family.) Expect around ten buckshot sized seed in each seed capsule.

If you have a wet spot and would like to add this plant to your property, be careful about helping yourself to a specimen from the wild. Be aware of laws which prohibit collecting plants from public lands. Likewise, avoid trespassing on private property without the permission of the landowner.

Those with green thumbs can try their own hand at propagating Swamp Hibiscus. This plant can be grown from seed, or by division of clumps when the plant is dormant in the winter. For experienced propagators, air layering or grafting may work, but I haven’t found any references that specifically mention these methods as successful. There are a few specialty nurseries that do grow and market this plant - the Association of Florida Native Nurseries currently lists five members that sell this plant in one and three gallon containers.

If you need additional information on Swamp Hibiscus, or want to see other photos of this pretty in pink plant, call or stop by our office at 458 Hwy 98 North. Our phone number is 863-763-6469, or you can email us at okeechobee@ifas.ufl.edu.

The Florida Cooperative Extension Service - Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer authorized to provide research, educational information, and other services to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap, or national origin. Florida Cooperative Extension Service / IFAS /University of Florida. Larry A. Arrington, Dean. Last update: 07/10/2006 . This page is maintained by Dan Culbert

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