PlantFiles: Hardy Hibiscus, Rose Mallow, Swamp Mallow
Hibiscus moscheutos 'Southern Belle'

one thing that i have found out is to keep fertilizing with a 15-5-10 every 2 weeks to keep the buds coming...will keep blooming from june thru october

I've had "Southern Belle" for about 2 years now. I protect the roots in winter with a good mulch of hay. The plant always dies back to the root crown with freezing temperatures, but returns with vigor each Spring when the temperatures are consistently warm. The dinner plate-sized blooms always draw attention and much admiration. This hibiscus seems to have a shorter blooming cycle than most other hibiscus, but it is certainly stunning when in flower.

This is an amazing plant that literally stops traffic in our yard. Though it is listed as needing moist soil, it has not suffered in our yard of sandy soil that does dry out between rain and supplemental waterings. The verocity with which it bursts from the ground reminds me of Jack's beanstalk, or maybe the "Little Shop of Horrors" plant.

Update 1 yr later: This plant is out of control! My 3 yr old clumps sent up over 50 stems each this year. I thinned them out and pruned it but the plant still got over 6 ft tall and 6 ft wide this year. Now it is stopping traffic literally because its blocking the view of traffic at my street corner. I just pruned it severely again, and will probably move it to the alley this fall. It also sets fruit like crazy and I cannot keep up with the dead-heading it requires.

Seed is easy to germanate and plant is reletivily easy to grow. Blooms freely under most conditions and holds good. strong alkaly lessens stamina and may effect winter-over. grow in bog or moist location. Not recomended for in pond gardening. In colder areas prevent the root ball from freezing. Top growth die off does not effect next years top growth. May be grown as an anual in very cold areas if started in fall and grown thru the winter.