Many mallow species grow in wet to moist environments, along streams, rivers or in marshes and bogs. This Rose Mallow, above, is blooming in a ditch near the Coosa Prairie in Northwest Georgia. This is Hibiscus moscheutos. Hibiscus flowers are frequented by a wide variety of pollinators, bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
Mallow species are excellent for raingardens, they can handle fluctuating water levels of urban runoff, and their deep taproots are good for holding soil. In the photo above, the white flowers of Hibiscus moscheutos are nestled with red Cardinal flowers on either side in a rain garden.
The plump seeds are good forage for graniverous wildlife. Many mallow species in the Southeast are fairly big plants, and need a bit of space. Moscheutos is a smaller species often 3-5 feet tall, sometimes getting taller.
Above is another, smaller species of Hibiscus, Halberd Leaf Hibiscus, Hibiscus laevis. The flowers are about the same size as the Rose Mallow, but pink and red instead of white and red. The plant is a bit taller, getting to 6 or 7 feet tall. This species is also good for bees, butterflies, & hummingbirds.
Take a close look at the center of the flower, it's Praying Mantis peekaboo. The mantis took note of Tanner and I looking at it, and tried to hide behind the staminal coloumn of the pistil and stamen. This flower is Hibiscus grandiflora, Swamp Hibiscus, it has enormous flowers with petals about 5-6 inches long. The plant itself can reach mature heights of about 10-12 feet tall. The leaves are large and a velvety pale green. This plant is native to the coastal plains of Georgia and the barrier islands.
#nativeplants #gardening #wildflowers 🍃
More information on the ecology of this plant at this link below:
https://bittersoutherner.com/feature/2022/the-untold-story-of-hibiscus-grandifloris-little-saint-simons-island
