Swamp Mallow

Swamp mallow is a sun-loving, low-maintenance perennial that thrives in North Central Florida's sunny climate. This expansive native plant, with its showy flowers, makes a stunning centerpiece. It also works well as part of a rain garden, or even as a flowering hedge.

Native Habitat and Range

Swamp rosemallow can be found in almost all parts of the Sunshine State and is suitable for use in landscaping from South Florida all the way up to North Florida. It grows naturally in wet areas such as swamps and marshes and along the edges of rivers, lakes and ponds.

Plant Specifics

Swamp mallow is known for its large, showy blooms, that come in a range of vibrant colors. Usually it has pink or white flowers, with a red, purple or crimson center. Swamp mallow grows 5-7 feet tall. Grey-green, velvety foliage gives this perennial a silvery sheen.

Landscaping with Swamp Mallow

Swamp mallow's large size and showy appearance makes it an excellent choice for a specimen plant to attract attention in the center of a landscape or container planting. It can also be striking over large areas of an expansive landscape.

As it naturally prefers wet soils, swamp rosemallow is an excellent choice for a rain garden, where it can help to soak up excess surface water after a heavy downpour. It is tolerant of flooding, even with brackish water. Swamp mallow's salt water flooding tolerance allows it to be cultivated in coastal areas subject to occasional inundation.

Swamp rose mallow will attract a range of pollinators, including bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Its leaves are a food source for several butterfly caterpillars, including the Painted Lady, the Grey Hairstreak and the Common Checkered Skipper.

How to Grow Swamp Mallow

Growing Conditions

Swamp mallow prefers wet soils. It grows in freshwater marshes and also has  salty soil tolerance. It can tolerate somewhat dry conditions too; in this case, use mulch to retain moisture. If you have the sandy soil typical across much of Florida, add compost or organic material before planting swamp mallow.

Swamp mallow loves the heat, and prefers to grow in full sun. Its pink flowers, which begin to appear in mid to late summer, last only a few days. However, this plant will continue to produce blooms until the first frost. In Florida's climate, those showy flowers will be on display through fall and even into late winter.

Care and Maintenance

To keep your rosemallow flowers happy, ensure that the plant has adequate moisture. This beautiful plant naturally grows in a wet environment, so it will need regular watering during dry spells. It's best to water swamp mallow early in the morning, to allow time for the leaves to dry out in the sun. This will help to prevent leaf fungus.

Swamp mallow benefits from a slow-release fertilizer or plant food in spring. This can be supplemented with more plant food in summer, when buds start to form, to boost flower growth.

Most of Florida's mallows can cope with minimum winter temperatures of around twenty degrees Fahrenheit. If cold weather is coming, use a layer of mulch around the base of your plant to help keep it warm. While winter dormant, water sparingly. Swamp mallows planted in containers should be brought indoors during cold weather.

Varieties of Swamp Mallow

There are many swamp mallow plant species that can be successfully grown in Florida. The Florida Wildflower Foundation has a list of plants, but here are our top suggestions:

• Scarlet rose mallow, hibiscus coccineus, is a native Florida species. Its beautiful deep-red flowers begin to bloom in mid to late summer.
• Crimson-eyed rosemallow, hibiscus moscheutos, has five-petaled flowers ranging in color from creamy white to pink. These usually have a striking dark red base in the center of the bloom. They bloom mid - summer through early fall.
• Swamp rose mallow, hibiscus grandiflorus, has pale pink or white petals with a red center.
• Comfortroot, hibiscus aculeatus, has pale, creamy petals with a striking red color at the center of the showy flower. This variety is native to North Florida, occurring mostly in the panhandle. It is hardy in Zones 7-10 and can be cultivated throughout Florida.

As always, if you would like any help choosing plants or planning out your ideal landscape, don't hesitate to get in touch with the friendly professionals at LawnMore Gainesville!

‍