Swamp rosemallow (Hibiscus moscheutos), also known as hardy hibiscus, is a North American native wetland perennial. Its tropical-looking flowers, often 4 to 8 inches wide, bloom in shades of white, pink, and red from midsummer through early fall.

Growing Requirements

• Sunlight: Thrives in full sun to partial shade (at least 6 hours of sun daily for best blooms).

• Soil: Prefers wet, organically rich, or marshy soils, but adapts well to average garden soil as long as it never dries out.

• Hardiness: Cold-hardy in USDA Zones 4–9.

• Size: Grows in a shrub-like clump from 3 - 7 feet tall and 2 - 4 feet wide.

Care and Maintenance

• Spring Emergence: It is notoriously slow to wake up in the spring, often not sprouting new green shoots until late May or early June.

• Pruning: Cut back dead, woody stems to a few inches above the ground in early spring before new growth kicks off.

• Pests: Watch for Japanese beetles, aphids, and sawfly larvae, which can chew holes in the leaves.

Landscape Benefits

• Wildlife: Attracts many bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators.

• Deer Resistance: Generally ignored by deer.

• Locations: Perfect for rain gardens, pond edges, and wet drainage areas.