Hibiscus coccineus

Hibiscus coccineus, the scarlet rosemallow,^[3] is a hardy Hibiscus species, also known as Texas star, brilliant hibiscus and scarlet hibiscus.

Hibiscus coccineus
Conservation status
Apparently Secure  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Malvales
Family:	Malvaceae
Genus:	Hibiscus
Species:	H. coccineus
Binomial name
Hibiscus coccineus (Medik.) Walter
Synonyms[2]
Hibiscus semilobatus

Hibiscus coccineus - MHNT

The plant is found in swamps, marshes and ditches on the coastal plain of the Southeastern United States.^[2] It is native from Southeastern Virginia south to Florida, then west to Louisiana. Despite its common name Texas star, the plant is not found naturally in Texas. In addition to the scarlet-flowering variety, a white-flowering variety is also known as the white Texas star or lone star hibiscus.

Description

H. coccineus is a herbaceous perennial (it dies back during the winter) and grows 6–8 ft (1.8–2.4 m) tall.^[4] The palmately compound leaves are 5–6 in (13–15 cm) wide,^[5] and look much like those of the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa. It features bright scarlet flowers that have five petals and are reminiscent of hollyhock.^[5] These flowers are attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies and bees, including the specialized bee Ptilothrix bombiformis.^[4] The plant prefers to be grown in full sun with moist soil.^[6] It is hardy in USDA hardiness zones 6–9.^[4]

The Latin specific epithet coccineus means "coloured or dyed scarlet".^[7] The genus name is the Greek and Latin name for "mallow".^[5]