Swamp Rose Mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos)
You have to love the tropical look of Hibiscus and Swamp Rose Mallow does not disappoint. The big flowers attract bumblebees, long-tongued bees, and the specialist bee, Rose-mallow Bee (illinoiswildflower.info). It is also a host plant to possibly the Painted Lady and 19 other butterflies and moths in this area (nwf.org) (illinoiswildflower.info). Another nectar-seeking visitor is the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, which is always a joy to see in the garden. The dead, pithy stems provide insect habitat over winter (Johnson and Colla, 2023).
Photo credit: Andrew Cannizzaro
You have to love the tropical look of Hibiscus and Swamp Rose Mallow does not disappoint. The big flowers attract bumblebees, long-tongued bees, and the specialist bee, Rose-mallow Bee (illinoiswildflower.info). It is also a host plant to possibly the Painted Lady and 19 other butterflies and moths in this area (nwf.org) (illinoiswildflower.info). Another nectar-seeking visitor is the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, which is always a joy to see in the garden. The dead, pithy stems provide insect habitat over winter (Johnson and Colla, 2023).
Photo credit: Andrew Cannizzaro
You have to love the tropical look of Hibiscus and Swamp Rose Mallow does not disappoint. The big flowers attract bumblebees, long-tongued bees, and the specialist bee, Rose-mallow Bee (illinoiswildflower.info). It is also a host plant to possibly the Painted Lady and 19 other butterflies and moths in this area (nwf.org) (illinoiswildflower.info). Another nectar-seeking visitor is the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, which is always a joy to see in the garden. The dead, pithy stems provide insect habitat over winter (Johnson and Colla, 2023).
Photo credit: Andrew Cannizzaro
Life Cycle: Perennial
Sun Exposure: Full, Partial
Soil Moisture: Wet, Medium-wet
Height: 3-5 feet
Plant Spacing: 2-3 feet
Bloom Time: July-September
Bloom Color: White, Pink
Advantages: Caterpillar Favorite, Bird Favorite, Deer Resistant
Host: Possibly the Painted Lady and 19 other species of butterflies and moths use this as a caterpillar host plant in our area (nwf.org) (illinoiswildflower.info)
Specialist Bee: Rose-mallow Bee (Ptilothrix bombiformis) (illinoiswildflower.info)
Resource: Johnson, Lorraine, and Sheila Colla. A Northern Gardener’s Guide to Native Plants and Pollinators: Creating Habitat in the Northeast, Great Lakes, and Upper Midwest. Island Press, 2023
