Minnesota Wildflowers


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Hibiscus laevis (Halberd-leaved Rose Mallow)

Plant Info
Also known as: Smooth Rose Mallow
Genus:Hibiscus
Family:Malvaceae (Mallow)
Life cycle:perennial
Origin:native
Habitat:sun; marshes, shallow water
Bloom season:July - September
Plant height:3 to 6 feet
USDA PLANTS database:Minnesota county distribution map

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Detailed Information

Flower: 5-petals

[photo of flower] Flowers are about 4 inches across with 5 round pinkish white overlapping petals, deep rose pink at the base and a column covered with creamy white stamens in the throat. At the end of the column is a stigma with 5 creamy, fuzzy round branches at the tip. 5 fused green sepals with sharp pointed tips enclose buds and flower base; up to 12 narrow, curving bracklets are below. Profuse flowering from the upper leaf axils

Leaves and stem: alternate lobed

[photo of leaves] Leaves are up to 6 inches long and 4 inches wide, hairless with finely toothed edges, triangular in outline with usually 2 triangular (more or less) lobes at the base, on a long leaf stalk. Stems are erect, hairless, sometimes branching.

Notes:

Many are surprised when I talk about a large native mallow especially near downtown St. Paul. Un-approachable without canoe I collected seeds in winter (~99% parasitized) and grew them out in isolation in garden in Lino Lakes. Robust grower but needs some water in dry weather. I have approached many in the nursery industry to get this onto the market and some like Tom's Outback Nursery (retail) in Hastings and Northern Perennials (wholesale) in Ham Lake offer it for sale. Seeds can also be purchased from Prairie Moon Nursery (catalog/web).

Where to buy native seed and plants

Help support this site by buying seeds & plants from these vendors. Tell them we sent you!

  • Out Back Nursery and Landscaping - Where Ecology and Horticulture Unite
  • Shooting Star Native Seeds - Native Prairie Grass and Wildflower Seeds
  • Prairie Restorations - Bringing people together with the land
  • Shop for native seeds and plants at PrairieMoon.com!

Map of native plant purveyors in the upper midwest

More photos

Photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk, taken at Lilydale Park in St. Paul and at residential garden in Lino Lakes

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?

Posted by: Kate at Pickerel Lake
on: 2011-08-28 16:49:59

Your comment above mentions Lilydale and the photos looks like the east part of Pickerel Lake where I first found the mystery seed pods last fall, and went back and found the pretty "hibiscus" or the Halberd-leaved Rose-Mallow 8/27/11. If you'd like additional photos, I shot some nice ones. A new wildflower for me.

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