Swamp Rose Mallow

🌺 Swamp Rose Mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos) – Wetland Royalty
Big, bold, and unapologetically beautiful—Swamp Rose Mallow brings a tropical flair to native wetland gardens. With massive, hibiscus-style blooms in shades of white to deep pink with bold red centers, this perennial is the crown jewel of shoreline edges, bioswales, rain gardens, and anywhere the ground stays moist.
But don’t let the floral drama fool you—this is a hardworking native species. It’s a water-loving powerhouse that supports pollinators, stabilizes soil, and contributes to resilient wetland ecosystems.
🌿 Growing Conditions
•Light: Full sun is ideal (6+ hours daily), but tolerates part shade. More sun = more blooms.
•Soil: Moist to wet, rich in organic matter. Happy in loamy or clay-heavy soils.
•Water: Thrives in consistently moist to wet soils. Perfect for rain gardens, pond edges, marshy spots, and flood-prone lowlands. Tolerates seasonal flooding.
•Hardiness: Zones 4–9. Very cold-hardy and dependable.
•Height/Spread: 4–7 feet tall, 2–4 feet wide.
🌱 Ecological & Beneficial Roles
•Pollinator Paradise: Attracts bumblebees, hummingbirds, butterflies, and specialist long-tongued bees like Ptilothrix bombiformis, which only visit Hibiscus species.
•Larval Host Plant: Supports the Common Checkered Skipper (Pyrgus communis) and other native moth species.
•Biodiversity Booster: Adds structure and nectar-rich blooms to wetland restorations, floodplain gardens, and native plant buffers.
•Stormwater Superstar: Absorbs runoff and reduces erosion in wet areas.
•Seasonal Drama: Blooms late summer into fall—just when many gardens are winding down.
Great For:
•Rain gardens
•Wetland restorations
•Pond and stream banks
•Naturalized cottage gardens
•Pollinator corridors
•Native plant meadows with moist soils
🌱 Planting to Protect, Restoring to Thrive
🌱 Origin Native Plants 🌱
Let nature do the heavy lifting—with a little help from one seriously stylish wildflower.