Try for Free
tab list
PictureThis
English
arrow
English
繁體中文
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Pусский
Português
Italiano
PictureThis
Search
Search Plants
Try for Free
Global
English
English
繁體中文
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Pусский
Português
Italiano
This page looks better in the app
picturethis icon
Instantly identify plants with a snap
Snap a photo for instant plant ID, gaining quick insights on disease prevention, treatment, toxicity, care, uses, and symbolism, etc.
Download the App for Free
Continue Reading
Swamp rose mallow

How to identify Swamp rose mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos)

Swamp rose mallow, also known as Rose-mallow

Swamp rose mallow boasts striking, dinner-plate-sized blooms measuring 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) across. These vibrant flowers are most notable for their overlapping petals in white, pink, red, or burgundy and a distinct central eye. The plant’s robust stature ranges from 2 to 6 feet (60 to 180 cm) in height and 2 to 5 feet (60 to 150 cm) in width, featuring a woody base and hairy stems. Alternating, ovate to lanceolate leaves are green with a whitish, hairy underside. Brown seed capsules follow the floral display, each 1 to 1.25 inches (2.5 to 3.2 cm) long.

Lifespan

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type

Plant Type: Shrub

Leaf Type

Leaf Type: Deciduous

Quickly Identify Swamp rose mallow

1

Dinner-plate-sized blooms with overlapping petals in white, pink, red, or burgundy.

2

Robust stature ranging from 2 to 6 feet (60 to 180 cm) in height.

3

Oval fruit capsule maturing to brown, housing dark brown, kidney-shaped seeds.

4

Ovate to lanceolate leaves, green with whitish, hairy underside.

5

Woody basal stem transitioning to green, hairy new growth, sparse branching.

Swamp rose mallowSwamp rose mallowSwamp rose mallowSwamp rose mallowSwamp rose mallow

Detailed Traits of Swamp rose mallow

Leaf Features

The leaves of swamp rose mallow are ovate to lanceolate, measuring 3 to 8 inches (7.5 to 20 cm) long by 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) wide. They are green to grayish-green with margins that may be toothed, showcasing 3 to 5 shallow lobes or being entire without lobes. The undersides are paler and pubescent. Petioles are 2 to 5 inches (5 to 12.5 cm) long, varying in color from green to reddish-green.

Leaf Shape

Lanceolate ,
Ovate ,
Palmate

Swamp rose mallow Leaf Shape image
Leaf Type

Simple

Leaf Base

Cuneate ,
Circular

Swamp rose mallow Leaf Base image
Leaf Arrangement

Alternate

Swamp rose mallow Leaf Arrangement image
Leaf Apex

Acuminate

Swamp rose mallow Leaf Apex image
Leaf Margin

Serrate

Swamp rose mallow Leaf Margin image
Learn About the Leaf Glossary
Group
Flower Features

Swamp rose mallow flowers are striking with their 5 large, showy petals in colors ranging from white, pink, red, to burgundy. Measuring 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) wide, they feature a darker prominent, tubular staminal column in creamy white to pale yellow. These eye-catching blooms emit a mild, pleasant scent and appear from June to September. The petals overlap slightly, creating a lush and full appearance, making swamp rose mallow a standout in any garden.

Swamp rose mallow Flower imageSwamp rose mallow Flower image
Corolla Type

Rosaceous

Inflorescence Type

Solitary

Learn About the Flower Glossary
Group
Stem Features

The stem of swamp rose mallow is characterized by its woody basal sections transitioning to green, hairy new growth. These stems are moderately thick, measuring approximately 0.4-0.6 inches (1-1.5 cm) in diameter. The green new growth is covered in fine hairs, giving it a slightly fuzzy texture, while the older, woody parts are firmer and more rigid. Branching is typically sparse, allowing for clear observation of the stem's texture and color transitions.

Learn About the Stem Glossary
Group
Fruit Features

The fruit of swamp rose mallow is a distinctive, oval capsule ranging from 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5 to 3.8 cm) in length, which matures to a brown hue from July to October. Approximately 4 to 5 weeks following the bloom of its flowers, the beaked capsule undergoes a color transformation to brown. It houses an arrangement of seeds, which present as dark brown in color, kidney-shaped, flattened, and devoid of hair, encircling the interior of the capsule.

Swamp rose mallow Fruit image
Fruit Type

Capsule

Learn About the Fruit Glossary
Group
Icon code

Scan QR code to download

More Plants You May Like and How to Identify Them
Img topic
Cape jasmine

Gardenia jasminoides is an evergreen shrub with unique, glossy evergreen leaves and stunning flowers. The sophisticated, matte white flowers are often used in bouquets. The exceptional beauty of this ornamental plant has made it a popular and highly appreciated plant amongst gardeners and horticulturalists.

Img topic
Golden pothos

The golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is a popular houseplant that is commonly seen in Australia, Asia, and the West Indies. It goes by many nicknames, including "devil's ivy", because it is so hard to kill and can even grow in low light conditions. Golden pothos has poisonous sap, so it should be kept away from pets and children.

Img topic
Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum is an annual or perennial herbaceous vine native to Central and South America that produces a large, juicy, edible fruit known as tomato. Today there are over 10000 cultivated varieties. Although tomato is the world’s most popular vegetable, botanically it is a fruit.

Img topic
Pepper

The pepper are commonly used for cooking in places such as the Southern U.S. and Central America. Most are moderately spicy, though because there are so many variants, the spice level can vary dramatically. Cayenne powder is also a popular seasoning product made from pepper plants.

Img topic
Swiss cheese plant

The swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa) produces bright, glossy leaves and makes a popular houseplant. It is originally native to tropical forest regions in Central America. The nickname swiss cheese plant refers to the small holes that develop in the plant's leaves. The long fruits resemble corncobs and smell sweet and fragrant when ripe.

Img topic
Bigleaf hydrangea

The bigleaf hydrangea is a deciduous shrub native to Japan, and is known for its lush, oval, colorful inflorescence. The two types of Hydrangea macrophylla are mopheads - with large, ball-shaped, sterile flower clusters, and lace capes - with small round fertile flowers in the center, and sterile flowers on the outer side of each inflorescence. Depending on soil pH, blooms can change color from pink to blue.

Swamp rose mallow and Their Similar Plants

Img topic
Rose of sharon vs. Swamp rose mallow: What's The Difference?
Hibiscus syriacus is a deciduous shrub with trumpet-shaped pink, lavender, or white flowers. Although it was first collected by Western botanists from Syrian gardens, “rose of sharon” is native to south-central and southeastern China. Because of its hardiness and prolific blooming, it is cultivated all around the world. It is the national flower of South Korea, mentioned in its national anthem.
Read More
Arrow
Img topic
Chinese hibiscus vs. Swamp rose mallow: What's The Difference?
Chinese hibiscus is a small flowering tree. Its fragrant flowers are well known the world over, leading to many cultivated variants. Chinese hibiscus is the national flower of Malaysia and is featured on Malaysian coins. Although the Latin name, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, means “the rose of China,” it is not related to true roses.
Read More
Arrow
Img topic
Halberd-leaf rosemallow vs. Swamp rose mallow: What's The Difference?
The halberd-leaf rosemallow or Hibiscus laevis produces delicate, showy flowers. These blooms only open in bright sunlight and last for a single day. This deciduous perennial is related to the marshmallow, the plant that was critical to the first marshmallow confections. Its name, meanwhile, references the similarity its leaves bear to the medieval weapon called the halberd.
Read More
Arrow
Img topic
Cranberry hibiscus vs. Swamp rose mallow: What's The Difference?
Cranberry hibiscus (*Hibiscus acetosella*), also known as cranberry hibiscus, is an edible vegetable that originally comes from Central Africa. It was later brought to Brazil and used to feed slaves. The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked, and the flowers are used to color teas. The roots can also be eaten but are considered unappetizing.
Read More
Arrow
Img topic
Roselle vs. Swamp rose mallow: What's The Difference?
Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) is a hibiscus species native to Africa. The fragrant plant has many uses as an infusion in beverages, as a vegetable, and in culinary use in jams and preserves.
Read More
Arrow
Img topic
Confederate rose vs. Swamp rose mallow: What's The Difference?
A unique feature of the confederate rose (Hibiscus mutabilis) is its color-changing flowers. This shrubby rose bush blooms starting as white in the morning, turn pink at midday, and end red by the end of the day. This is a common plant species and although it is native to Southeast China, it can now be found on every continent except Antarctica.
Read More
Arrow
Img topic
Scarlet rosemallow vs. Swamp rose mallow: What's The Difference?
The scarlet rosemallow (Hibiscus coccineus) is native to the southeastern parts of the USA. It is found near marshes, swamps, and other moist areas, so in the garden, it does well near streams or water features. As it is tall-growing, it is wise to stake it.
Read More
Arrow
Img topic
Heartleaf rosemallow vs. Swamp rose mallow: What's The Difference?
Other names for heartleaf rosemallow (Hibiscus martianus) include Tulipan Del Monte and heartleaf hibiscus. This plant is indigenous to the southwestern United States and is a fantastic attractor of hummingbirds.
Read More
Arrow
Identify Swamp rose mallow easily and quickly
We're also capable of identifying over 12,000 types of plants, flowers, succulents, and trees in your surroundings.
Identify a Plant Online

Key Facts About Swamp rose mallow

Attributes of Swamp rose mallow
Lifespan
Perennial
Plant Type
Shrub
Plant Height
1 m to 2.5 m
Spread
50 cm to 1.2 m
Leaf Color
Green
Flower Size
10 cm to 22 cm
Flower Color
White
Pink
Red
Fruit Color
Green
Stem Color
Brown
Green
Leaf type
Deciduous
Identify plants with a snap
Instantly identify plants with AI: Snap a photo, and get accurate results within seconds.
Download the App for Free

Scientific Classification of Swamp rose mallow

Family
Mallow
Icon allow
Species
Swamp rose mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos)
Learn More About the Swamp rose mallow

Distribution Map of Swamp rose mallow

Swamp rose mallow is native to a range from southeastern Canada north to the top of Mexico, primarily clustered on the eastern side of North America. It has been introduced into some of western Europe, the Mediterranean, and Korea and China. It is most often found in wetlands and marshes. It hosts the larvae of some insects.
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
close
close
Your Ultimate Guide to Plants
Identify grow and nurture the better way!
product icon
17,000 local species +400,000 global species studied
product icon
Nearly 5 years of research
product icon
80+ scholars in botany and gardening
ad
ad
Botanist in your pocket
qrcode
PictureThis Ios DownloadPictureThis Android Download
Scan the QR code with your phone camera to download the app