Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Hibiscus lasiocarpos (also, H. lasiocarpus orth. var. ) is a species of hibiscus known by the common name hairy-fruited hibiscus. It is also one of several hibiscus called rosemallow. It is native to much of the southeastern United States, as well as parts of California and northern Mexico. It is a large, bushy perennial herb with sprawling stems reaching one to two meters long. The leaves are heart-shaped, toothed, and pointed, and generally between 6 and 10 centimeters long. The inflorescence holds large showy, solitary flowers. Each flower has a cup of partly fused sepals beneath a layer of slender bracts. These may be covered in hairs or woolly fibers. The flower's large petals may be up to 10 centimeters long and are generally bright white with red bases. The stamen tube and anthers are white or cream. The fruit is a capsule 2. 5-3 centimeters long containing spherical seeds.

Plant type

Perennial herb

Calscape icon
Color

White, Red

Flowering season

Summer, Fall

Sun

Full Sun

Water

Moderate, High

Soil description

Soil should be kept moist throughout the growing season.

Plant communities

Freshwater Wetlands, Wetland-Riparian

Bats
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 5 likely

Confirmed Likely

Subterranean Dart

Feltia subterranea

Corn Earworm Moth

Helicoverpa zea

Fall Webworm

Hyphantria cunea