Hibiscus Species, Swamp Hibiscus, Scarlet Rose Mallow, Texas Star, Scarlet Hibiscus
Hibiscus coccineus
Family: | Malvaceae (mal-VAY-see-ee) (Info) |
Genus: | Hibiscus (hi-BIS-kus) (Info) |
Species: | coccineus (kok-SIN-ee-us) (Info) |
Synonym: | Hibiscus semilobatus |

Height:
6-8 ft. (1.8-2.4 m)
8-10 ft. (2.4-3 m)
10-12 ft. (3-3.6 m)
Spacing:
4-6 ft. (1.2-1.8 m)
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Sun Exposure:
Sun to Partial Shade
Bloom Color:
Scarlet (dark red)
Bloom Time:
Mid Summer
Late Summer/Early Fall
Foliage:
Herbaceous
Smooth
Other details:
Soil pH requirements:
5.6 to 6.0 (acidic)
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
From seed; direct sow after last frost
Seed Collecting:
Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
Foliage Color:
Bloom Characteristics:
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Water Requirements:
Very high moisture needs; suitable for bogs and water gardens
Where to Grow:
Grow outdoors year-round in hardiness zone
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
Arley, Alabama
Bessemer, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama(2 reports)
Dothan, Alabama
Dutton, Alabama
Huntsville, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Montgomery, Alabama
Pelham, Alabama
Smiths, Alabama
Tuskegee, Alabama
Woodland, Alabama
Tucson, Arizona
Ashdown, Arkansas
Little Rock, Arkansas
El Centro, California
Merced, California
Sacramento, California(2 reports)
Smyrna, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware(2 reports)
Alachua, Florida
Archer, Florida
Bartow, Florida
Brooksville, Florida(2 reports)
Chiefland, Florida
Clermont, Florida
Crawfordville, Florida
Englewood, Florida
Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Fountain, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Hollywood, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Lutz, Florida
Naples, Florida
Navarre, Florida
Niceville, Florida(3 reports)
Ocala, Florida
Odessa, Florida
Old Town, Florida
Oldsmar, Florida
Pensacola, Florida
Pompano Beach, Florida
Sarasota, Florida
Spring Hill, Florida
Tarpon Springs, Florida
Trenton, Florida
Umatilla, Florida
Valrico, Florida
Yulee, Florida
Zephyrhills, Florida
Atlanta, Georgia
Barnesville, Georgia
Brunswick, Georgia
Buford, Georgia
Clarkesville, Georgia
Dacula, Georgia
Decatur, Georgia
Lawrenceville, Georgia
Richmond Hill, Georgia
Rincon, Georgia
Rutledge, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia
Tucker, Georgia
Winterville, Georgia
Elberfeld, Indiana
Farmersburg, Indiana
Derby, Kansas
Fredonia, Kansas
Shawnee Mission, Kansas
Barbourville, Kentucky
Ewing, Kentucky
Angie, Louisiana
Bastrop, Louisiana
Covington, Louisiana
Deridder, Louisiana
Elm Grove, Louisiana
Hammond, Louisiana
Lafayette, Louisiana
Mandeville, Louisiana
Natchitoches, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana(2 reports)
Norco, Louisiana
Paulina, Louisiana
Zachary, Louisiana
Zwolle, Louisiana
Baltimore, Maryland
Elkton, Maryland(2 reports)
Woburn, Massachusetts
Lucedale, Mississippi
Madison, Mississippi(2 reports)
Mathiston, Mississippi
Ocean Springs, Mississippi
Centerville, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Mount Laurel, New Jersey
Nutley, New Jersey
Roswell, New Mexico
Brooklyn, New York
Woodbury, New York
Aberdeen, North Carolina
Apex, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Climax, North Carolina
Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Greensboro, North Carolina
Kure Beach, North Carolina
New Bern, North Carolina(2 reports)
Oxford, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina(3 reports)
South Mills, North Carolina
West End, North Carolina
Winston Salem, North Carolina
Ashville, Ohio
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Edmond, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma(2 reports)
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Mercer, Pennsylvania
Anderson, South Carolina
Chapin, South Carolina(2 reports)
Columbia, South Carolina
Conway, South Carolina
Darlington, South Carolina
Edisto Island, South Carolina
Florence, South Carolina
Greenville, South Carolina
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Johns Island, South Carolina
Manning, South Carolina
Murrells Inlet, South Carolina
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
North Augusta, South Carolina
North Charleston, South Carolina
Pawleys Island, South Carolina
Simpsonville, South Carolina(2 reports)
Summerville, South Carolina(2 reports)
Collierville, Tennessee
Elizabethton, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Alvin, Texas
Argyle, Texas
Arlington, Texas
Austin, Texas(3 reports)
Bayside, Texas
Baytown, Texas(2 reports)
Beaumont, Texas(2 reports)
Belton, Texas
Boerne, Texas
Brazoria, Texas(2 reports)
Brenham, Texas
Brownsville, Texas
Bryan, Texas
Buda, Texas
Carlsbad, Texas
Cleburne, Texas
Conroe, Texas
Copperas Cove, Texas
Corpus Christi, Texas(2 reports)
Dallas, Texas
Desoto, Texas
Fabens, Texas
Fate, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas(2 reports)
Houston, Texas(4 reports)
Humble, Texas
Iredell, Texas
Irving, Texas(2 reports)
Jacksonville, Texas
Kerrville, Texas(2 reports)
Kilgore, Texas
Kyle, Texas
La Porte, Texas(2 reports)
League City, Texas
Mansfield, Texas
Nederland, Texas
Oakhurst, Texas
Orange, Texas
Princeton, Texas
Red Oak, Texas
Richardson, Texas
Rowlett, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Augustine, Texas
Spring, Texas
Temple, Texas
Terrell, Texas
Texarkana, Texas
Texas City, Texas
Tyler, Texas
Venus, Texas
Victoria, Texas
Weimar, Texas
Winnsboro, Texas
Buchanan, Virginia
Buena Vista, Virginia
Disputanta, Virginia
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Lexington, Virginia
Locust Grove, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Rixeyville, Virginia
Springfield, Virginia
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Cabin Creek, West Virginia
Charleston, West Virginia
show allGardeners' Notes:
Rating | Content |
---|---|
Positive | On Oct 20, 2021, JennysGarden_TN from Collierville, TN wrote: I have them growing by my dining window where I can see hummies always come by for their nectar! |
Positive | On Apr 7, 2019, Rests from Bryan, TX wrote: It looks very tropical, but it's not. Have it planted in a container. Forgot and left it out during a hard freeze for several days. Just knew that it was probably dead. It is coming back up from the roots. So far, it's a winner!! |
Positive | On May 30, 2016, mfajman wrote: Very easy plant to grow. Last year I had 2 plants in normal draining pots. This year I transplanted them to 5 gallon buckets without drainage holes. I buried the pots in the ground. Now I can keep them wet constantly. One is almost 7' in May. Plenty of buds getting ready. I didn't have a pond to put them in so this is the next best thing. |
Positive | On May 9, 2016, Fusca from San Antonio, TX (Zone 9a) wrote: I love this plant! I had white variety and red variety seeds I had collected and scattered the seed randomly in my flower bed. The first year they did not flower, but I noticed the stems of the plant revealed the color of the flower - the red flowered plants had reddish stems and the white flowered plants had white stems! Has anyone else noticed this? I thought that was pretty cool! |
Positive | On Jan 7, 2016, BilliesBloomers from Climax, NC wrote: It's definitely a "WOW." It's a great addition to any 'tropical themed' design for sure. I plant ours with a variety of canna lilies to achieve this affect. Ours are in a clay soil near the porch roof line - the water runoff was plenty (even with a pretty long drought) to get 5-6ft tall plants from seed the first year that had multiple blooms the size of my face. They were a stunning scarlet and the hummingbirds agreed. Very easy from seed, those left 1 gal pots grew to 3 ft but did not bloom this year, This may have been because they did receive less water than those that were planted out. I cannot wait to see how much bigger they are next year and in the years coming. If you've got a big space to fill- this is a great choice! |
Negative | On Oct 31, 2015, coriaceous from ROSLINDALE, MA wrote: This is a beautiful species with attractive, deeply divided foliage that looks like cannabis. It is often listed as hardy to Z6, but though I've had a lot of success growing other hardy herbaceous hibiscus species I've never had this overwinter here in Z6a. |
Positive | On Sep 7, 2013, wildernessjim from Locust Grove, VA wrote: My fifth year! She is beautiful with wonderful red flowers. This is our best year. She is about ten feet tall and has had many many flowers. The past years have seen many police taking clippings because of the Marijuana like leaves. Even my father in law says it looks like the marijuana they grew for the government during World War II for the Hemp For Victory program. When she flowers they look nothing like Cannabis flowers. Too bad. I'd love to smoke those flowers for my Glaucoma. Fortunately no one has cut down my plants. |
Positive | On Nov 12, 2012, kuhisch from Arcadia Lakes, SC wrote: I have a star hibiscus and the leaves are turning yellow. Do I need to be doing something different? I live in South Carolina and we have had some cold weather. Could you give me any help? |
Positive | On Apr 19, 2012, Greenwilly from Anderson, SC wrote: This is my first time of growing this plant. I received a plant from my wife's friend in the early fall of last year. I planted it just about the time it was going to seed. I collected the seeds and stored them through the winter. I cut the stalks of the plant down to about 4 inches from the ground in late to mid-January this year. I planted the seeds in several containers in mid-March. They all came up. I have now transferred the small seedlings from their cup containers to larger pots. I used a mixture of mulch, topsoil and a small amount of blood meal mixed into the soil and mulch.They seem to be taking off in the larger pots. I will probably transfer them permanently into the ground in mid to late May. Oh by the way, the original plant that I received last fall is now coming back. I ... read more |
Positive | On Apr 9, 2012, Sandwichkatexan from Copperas Cove, TX wrote: This plant definitely needs a couple of seasons to start reaching its full potential . I purchased a one gallon plant from a nursery in Goldthwaite TX on my way home from a business trip in Amarillo it has been three years and only now are the stalks emerging thick and tall. the first couple of years were a teaser I guess because this year it looks like it is going to put on a show ! |
Positive | On Apr 6, 2012, irishboiler from Fort Wayne, IN wrote: I bought my hibiscus coccineus early last summer and planted it near my pond. In early winter I poured one bag of mulch over the base of the plant. I am thrilled to see strong growth this spring on the plant being that I am in zone 5b and the plant is only supposed to be hardy to zone 6. That being said it was a mild winter. Regardless it is a beautiful plant. |
Positive | On Jun 27, 2011, smurfwv from Cabin Creek, WV (Zone 6a) wrote: I started some seed in 2010, in 2011 it bloomed. I read that its hardy to -10F, is this true? I live in 6a and I want top lant it in the ground, I just don't want to lose it over winter. |
Positive | On Feb 4, 2011, xoMissi from Naples, FL wrote: I absolutely LOVE this plant! I collected seed pods from native wild plants growing in the swampland down here in Southwest Florida. They've sprouted & have just taken off! I treasure them, indeed! |
Positive | On Dec 28, 2010, gardenbugde from Smyrna, DE (Zone 7a) wrote: I gave my Mom a plant in 2008. Her landscaping guy accidentally "whacked" it off at the ground, but it grew back! This past year, it reached 9 feet! She had at least a dozen blooms and she saved me the seed pods. I have one as well and it's doing well; bloomed for me this year for the first time. It's such a lovely color. Everyone should have one! |
Positive | On Aug 12, 2010, ATL_Hibiscus from Tucker, GA wrote: This plant gets bigger and has more blooms every year. It has spread and grown so well since the first planting 4-5 years ago that I had to cut it back substantially during the blooming season this year. I normally cut it back to the ground around Halloween. Flowers bloom in June. I do very little upkeep and it thrives. It gets full sun and mostly rainwater here in Atlanta. I don't fertilize. I haven't covered it during the winter freezes. I spray for bugs when I notice the leaves are holey. The blooms are the size of dinner plates and very impressive. I have 2 kinds planted--one blooms a deep red and the other a dark pink. |
Positive | On Jul 17, 2010, heavenlybamboo from Centerville, MO wrote: IS THERE REALLY A RED VARIETY? |
Positive | On Oct 30, 2009, sseiber6 from West End, NC (Zone 7b) wrote: I got this plant as a gift last year, and was terribly disappointed when it "died" in the Fall. Imagine my disbelief, when I saw the green coming up, the following Spring. I see other comments here, that say their plants stay and grow. Mine gets about 4'-5' tall, and is very pretty. I just wish it would not die down completely. My son, who gave me the plant, has one of his own and it does the same thing. The leaves, turn with the trees, and have very attractive coloring. I did not water, except occasionally, during the hottest part of the year. |
Positive | On Oct 8, 2009, Harano from Beaumont, TX wrote: My Texas Star has been an impressive attention getter. Love it, and how FAST it grows. Volunteer sister plants surrounded it after the first season, but in the 3 and 4th season the surrounding plants have been only miniature versions of the original one we purchased in Austin. We're talking short (18") stalks, miniature (2") leaves, and only 3-inch blossoms. The original plant was planted close to a large window where I can enjoy it, but of course I don't see the little ones from inside because they are so near the ground. Only the original plant amidst those still grows taller than the house; new volunteers are all miniatures. What happened to the others??? Could fire ant granules have stunted their growth? Or some other chemical from the exterminator we contract for quarterly... read more |
Positive | On Jul 8, 2009, RebeccaLynn from Winston Salem, NC (Zone 7a) wrote: When I was a young child in 1951, my family vacationed in southern Florida. We saw these tall, stalky plants with brilliant red flowers. They were growling wild on the sides of the roads. My mother had to have some. My dad pulled up a handful, and we took them back home to Charlotte, North Carolina. He planted them at the corners of our new house around front. My parents left their home for a retirement community in 2000. Over the nearly fifty years those beautiful tall flowers had spread all around the foundation of their home and were absolutely stunning when in bloom every year. Many people stopped to ask what they were. |
Positive | On Jul 6, 2009, 2racingboys from Bartlett, TN (Zone 7b) wrote: A dear friend of mine gave me a large clump of these hibiscus in early spring. |
Positive | On Oct 3, 2008, klstuart from Simpsonville, SC (Zone 7b) wrote: Zone 7b - This is a great, super low-maintenance plant. I have it in full sun, hard clay soil, no watering system nearly 10 years ago. It grew rapidly, blooms heavily every year even in drought, and I almost never water it! |
Positive | On Sep 25, 2008, kdaustin from Austin, TX (Zone 8b) wrote: In its native habitat Star Hibiscus tends to be found along creekbeds, swampy areas, and in ditches. Yes it can go drier...sometimes. If you are in the deep south/eastern seaboard or parts of the west coast where you get regular rains, or if you water a lot anywhere, it will seem like a great plant for "regular" flowerbeds. However if you live in a dry climate/don't water much you will probably want to plant it where it gets more water, like by the ac, or in your water gardens, for best effect. To effect, one of mine in a bed that gets watered every two weeks grows to 3' tall and blooms sparcely, one that grew in a naturally low area with runoff from the neighbors irragation grew to 6' feet and bloomed profusely, the ones I have in 10 gallon pots in my water gardens easily grow 8' and bloo... read more |
Positive | On Aug 25, 2008, Estepona from Estepona, I have two big plants. They live on grey water from the house (all my sinks and washbasins drain into one pipe for use in the garden, and the lavatories, bidets etc drain into a septic tank). |
Positive | On Aug 5, 2008, DaddyNature from Atlanta, GA wrote: I am absolutely thrilled to have had my plant bloom after planting it last year from a collected seed. I missed seeing the bloom on the parent plant -- so I had no idea it is a huge 7.5" across...and red! It's important to note that the foliage is fantastic too. I'm hooked! :-D |
Neutral | On Jul 25, 2008, holmboy from Texas City, TX wrote: My law enforcement buddies saw this plant and nearly went beserk as it appears to be of the hemp family. |
Positive | On Sep 9, 2007, DumbBlonde from Texarkana, TX wrote: I cut my plants back in late fall. If your plant is not blooming as you like, my plants flowers beautifully after a dose of "blooming" Miracle Grow. I have had much sucess with planting them near air-conditioner units that produce constant water from condensation. |
Positive | On Jun 24, 2007, Cheiri from Tarpon Springs, FL (Zone 9b) wrote: My plants are growing at my pond edge. When the summer rains come, the pond level will be lapping at their feet. That's OK - they are perfectly happy growing in water up to 18". In the winter, they die back despite our moderate winter temperatures in Florida. Once Spring arrives, they begin to push up from the earth to begin blooming in late June. They will continue blooming their hearts out all summer and fall. I waited this year until they were approx. 12-16" high and then I cut them back to encourage branching which results in more flowers. I put the thicker stem cuttings into the wet sand where they would get some shade and they rooted quickly. Then I transplanted them to sunny locations. |
Positive | On Jun 22, 2007, macybee from Deer Park, TX (Zone 9a) wrote: I suppose the category is Shrubby Perennial? |
Positive | On Jun 4, 2006, faykoko from Cross Lanes, WV (Zone 6b) wrote: beautiful flowers and foliage, dies back to the ground here and late ti rise in the spring -mid May |
Positive | On Dec 28, 2005, almcfarla from Baytown, TX (Zone 9a) wrote: It dies to the ground in winter but comes back from roots. Love the beautiful blooms! |
Positive | On Oct 16, 2005, mandikat from Virginia Beach, VA (Zone 7b) wrote: Because I have a wildlife habitat- I tried this plant in my bog garden first and the next year I planted the harvested seeds in a pot for one of my regular ponds. It has done so well (both over-wintered outside) that I tried some seeds in regular soil by a dead tree used for bird feeding. The plants are all blooming beautifully in all locations and seem happy. This years seeds will be given out as little extras in Christmas cards to friends. |
Positive | On Sep 5, 2005, Osteole from Lamar, AR (Zone 7a) wrote: My plant resides in fullsun tendency towards dry soil. I haven't had any problems with it being high maintenance or requiring an inordain amount of water. |
Positive | On Sep 3, 2005, Tantric11 from Indian Trail, NC wrote: We have planted these as a border against a fence. They are at least six feet tall at this point. I love the flower even though it only blooms for 1 day. |
Positive | On May 31, 2005, tcfromky from Mercer, PA (Zone 5a) wrote: I'm tempted to see if this will overwinter here in zone 5 but don't want to risk killing this beautiful plant. I kept my "Great Red" indoors in a container through the winter months and set it out on the back porch in summer. I purchased the plant at Monticello in a four inch pot almost one year ago. |
Positive | On Jun 14, 2004, msflash from Yantis, TX wrote: This can grow into a very large plant. My cousin in Ms has one so large it covers the storage shed- and gets lovelier every year. I broght a very small seedling home to East Texas 3 years ago, and every year it gets more beautiful. One of the nursery men told me it is called the Confederate Texas Star--guess because the leaves have 5 points like the lone star of texas- |
Positive | On Jan 24, 2004, ladywelder66 from Norfolk, VA wrote: I love this plant. If you don't want it growing tall, you can keep it pruned to a lower height.You really should prune it down after it blooms anyway to keep it neat and encourage better growth. |
Neutral | On Oct 3, 2003, wanda0810 from Ashville, OH (Zone 5b) wrote: I live in Ohio (U.S.); Zone 5. I planted one of these plants last year not knowing what it was, I got really lucky to end up with such a pretty flower. It is at least six foot tall with blooms all the way down the plant. Any one who has the chance to have one of these flowers should get it - I love this plant. |
Positive | On Aug 7, 2003, suncatcheracres from Old Town, FL wrote: I was given seed for this plant about three years ago at a Native Plant Synposium in Atlanta, Georgia. I got six plants from the seed, planted them in the red clay there, in an azalea border that got lots of water, and they all grew, but very slowly. |
Positive | On Jul 21, 2003, LittleShima from Tucson, AZ (Zone 9b) wrote: I have 4 hibiscus trees. Two are blue also called rose of sharon. These have a different leaf, sort of like a leaf of a mosquito bush. The other is a double yellow and the last is called a lipstick hisbiscus. They grow beautifully and here in Tucson they are easily purchased at any nursery in April.The three bushes I have are a red, an orange with red throats, and a yellow with red throats. They seem do do better in full sun but with our heat they do get stressed. I prune them down about 2/3s and they come right back. I also leave only 2 buds on each branch so the flowers will be bigger.I have learned however that you have to be carefull not to overwater these as the leaves will yellow and start to fall as will the buds. |
Positive | On Jul 16, 2003, Mkissel from Bethlehem, GA (Zone 7b) wrote: Planted in fall last year (nursery specimen). New growth did not appear until early May 2003. Plant is approx. 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide with several "stalks" emerging from base. Buds form in clusters at the top of each. Leaves are similar to a hand that are deep green with 6-7 seraded fingers. Does well in partial shade to full sun. A wonderful specimen to add a different "flavor" to your flower bed or garden. |
Positive | On Apr 23, 2003, Azalea from Jonesboro, GA (Zone 7b) wrote: Another common name is Swamp Hibiscus, I thought by the name it would need a shady damp place. I planted one in shade and one with part sun - the one in more sun had many more blooms and grows more rapidly. I gave my neighbor a small one and his was planted in full sun, it was full of blooms when mine only had one or tow blooms at a time. |
Positive | On Jan 9, 2003, ButterflyGardnr from Orlando, FL (Zone 9b) wrote: With its love of moisture, this plant is a great addition to a water garden, which is where I have mine. The blossoms are large (about 8 inches across) and a beautiful scarlet color. It is supposed to attract hummingbirds. The plant goes dormant in the winter. The old stems can be cut off when new growth appears in spring. There is an albino form of this plant. |
Positive | On May 29, 2002, rmarkham from Morehead City, NC wrote: I have had this plant for two years now and each year it is more beautifl than the last. It loves to be packed with other plants. I take the seeds from the pods when the pods begin to open and have started several plants that way. It seems like the plant needs a couple years to bloom. I planted two seeds last year and they have come up, but very slow. The parent plant is almost 5 feet tall now, while the new plants are only 2 feet tall. I will try to keep you abreast of the growth. I live on the coast in NC. |
Neutral | On Mar 23, 2002, HibLady wrote: Hibiscus coccineus is a hardy perennial in zones 6-11, and is native to the USA. |
Neutral | On Sep 5, 2001, Floridian from Lutz, FL (Zone 9b) wrote: This plant has many common names including Texas Star, Scarlet Hibiscus and Swamp Mallow |