Swamp hibiscus, the American cousin

It's a well-known fact that, in America, everything is always bigger. Buildings, cars, your fast-food drink... The same rule applies to plants. Swamp hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos) is native to the wetlands of Texas and Louisiana. While it resembles its cousins in the Malvaceae family, hibiscus syriacus and hibiscus rosa-sinensis, its flowers are much more imposing.

How to recognize the marsh hibiscus, Hibiscus moscheutos?

Hibiscus moscheutos is a woody perennial with a bushy habit. In its natural habitat, it reaches a height of five meters. In our gardens, it rarely exceeds two meters.

In spring, herbaceous stems emerge from the stump. They support the deciduous foliage. The dark green to black leaf blades reach 25 centimetres in length. They are oval, glabrous on the upper side and hairy on the underside.

The trumpet-shaped flowers bloom in summer. They have just five petals. But their diameter is close to 25 centimetres. Botanical marsh hibiscus flowers are white or pink with brown or fuchsia centers. But like other hibiscuses, the typical species has given rise to numerous cultivars and hybrids. You can grow a Hibiscus moscheutos with immaculate, red, yellow or two-tone flowers.

After flowering, in autumn, the fruits appear. These half-open capsules house the hairy seeds that will give rise to new shrubs.

The flowers and leaves of the Marsh Hibiscus are non-toxic. The plant presents no danger to animals or humans. Melliferous, it is much appreciated by foraging insects and butterflies.

Our maintenance tips

Marsh Hibiscus like damp places, such as the banks of ponds. But you can also grow them in your garden, in pots or in the ground. Just be sure to keep them cool in summer and protect them from the cold in winter.

Watering

Water your Marsh hibiscus before the substrate dries on the surface. You can use rainwater or mains water.

Marsh Hibiscus are water-hungry plants, especially in summer. Mulch the base to limit evaporation and reduce watering frequency.

Repotting

In spring, transfer your Hibiscus moscheutos to a larger pot, so that it can continue to grow.

Choose a trough or perforated pot larger than the root ball. Place a layer of clay balls or gravel at the bottom to promote drainage.

Pour in potting soil for flowering plants. Plant your Hibiscus moscheutos in the center and fill in with substrate.

Water for the first time to eliminate air bubbles and facilitate rooting.

Fertilization

You can stimulate the growth of your plant during its growth phase, in spring and summer, with fertilizer.

Add flowering plant fertilizer to watering water to stimulate flowering.

Prune

Using clean, sharp pruning shears, cut back the clumps to within ten centimetres of the ground.

Plantation

Once the last spring frosts have passed, you can plant.

Choose a location in the sun and sheltered from the wind. Dig a hole two or three times larger than the root ball.

Marsh Hibiscus like rich soil. If your soil is poor, don't hesitate to add compost or manure. Plant your specimen and fill in.

Water generously, until the soil is saturated, to encourage rooting.

Seedling

Soak seeds in lukewarm water for 48 hours.

Prepare cups or a box filled with horticultural potting soil. Plant the seeds at a depth equivalent to twice their diameter. You can put several seeds in the same pot.

Place your seedlings in a room with a temperature of at least 18°. Water when the substrate has dried on the surface.

Disease / Threat

Aphids

Information

Family	Malvaceae - Malvaceae
Type	Hibiscus - Hibiscus
Species	Marsh Hibiscus - Hibiscus moscheutos
Lifecycle	Perennial
Foliage	Deciduous
Exposures	Sun Half-shade
Substrats	Calcareous earth Humus soil Sandy soil
Planting methods	Open ground In pots In tubs
Categories	Herbaceous Flowery
Tags	Flowery Edible flower
Origin	North America
Hardiness (USDA)	9b
Leaf color
Flower colors
Fruit color