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Key characteristics

Family: Malvaceae
Height: 48–84 inches
Width: 24–48 inches
Flower color: Soft pink with a crimson center
Foliage color: Grayish-green above; hairy-white below
Bloom time: Mid to late summer
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Water: Wet to consistently moist soils
Maintenance: Low; cut back stems after frost
Growing zone: USDA zones 5–9
Wildlife: Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds; serves as a larval host for certain butterflies and moths

Perennials

Hibiscus Moscheutos var. Palustris

Palustris Rose Mallow

Hibiscus moscheutos var. palustris is an herbaceous perennial that produces large, soft pink flowers with a deep red center. Blooming from mid-summer to early fall, its wide, open petals and prominent stamens create a bold display that attracts pollinators. Native to wetlands and marshes in eastern North America, this variety thrives in moist environments and has adapted to seasonal flooding.

Palustris Rose Mallow tolerates wetter conditions than many other hibiscus species, making it well-suited for rain gardens and pond edges.

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Water

Wet to consistently moist soils

Bloom time

Mid to late summer

Find this plant

Works well in

Borders
Cottage Gardens
Pollinator Gardens
Hummingbird Gardens
Rain Gardens

Companion plants

Astilbes · Foxgloves · Bergenias · Sedums · Columbines · Lungworts

Design tip

Summer flowers carry the middle of the season, so place it where the bed needs color once spring bulbs fade. It takes sun or light shade, which makes it useful along the changing light of a bed edge or a partly shaded border.

Printable plant sheet (PDF)