00:00Whether you call it rose mallow, hardy hibiscus, dinner plate hibiscus, or swamp mallow,
00:06this perennial is an excellent choice to brighten up the summer garden.
00:10Grow rose mallow as a focal point in the landscape or as a lush flowering hedge.
00:16Even with their tropical look and feel, these plants are surprisingly easy to care for.
00:21In fact, the colorful varieties you find at your local garden center
00:24are derived from its North American native parent.
00:28These nativars combine the excellent traits of its parent with new bloom colors, foliage colors,
00:34and varying mature heights, with some growing upwards of 6 to 7 feet tall
00:39and some staying shorter at just 3 to 4 feet tall.
00:43The oversized flowers feature ruffled petals in all shades of pink, red, magenta, white,
00:49and bicolor, some with dark centers or intense veining atop leaves that are green to dark wine purple.
00:57So, if you're looking to try your hand at growing one of these spectacular plants,
01:01let's look at the 5 things you need to know about growing rose mallow.
01:07When you see a striking plant like this, you may think you need to live in a tropical region.
01:12But, believe it or not, this very tough perennial plant is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9.
01:18It can grow as far north as Wisconsin, down to southern Texas, and most everywhere in between,
01:24including the East Coast, Midwest, and Northwest.
01:27So, yes, they are cold hardy despite the large tropical looking flowers and foliage.
01:32But, this plant can often be confused with its cousin, the tropical hibiscus.
01:36When shopping for rose mallow, be sure to double check and confirm you are purchasing the right species of
01:42hibiscus for the right location. You will often find the rose mallow in the perennial section of
01:47a garden center and not in the tropical greenhouse space. While this plant can do well in most types
01:53of soil, they prefer soil that is moist or wet. Given the alternative common name of swamp mallow,
01:59this plant is well suited for a moist area on the property where it may be difficult to grow other
02:04types of plants. They can even be planted near water features and ponds. For the plant to reach its
02:10fullest potential for bloom, provide this plant also with full sun, or at least 6 hours per day.
02:16Some of the most common insect pests are attracted to the foliage and flowers of the rose mallow,
02:21including aphids, spider mites, thrips, whiteflies, and Japanese beetles.
02:27The larvae of the sawfly are especially fond of this plant. They are very tough to see,
02:32but if you look closely, an army of small green caterpillars will be feasting on both the upper
02:37and lower leaves, resulting in lacy foliage. You can handpick the pests or spray them off with a
02:43stream of water. They can create an extensive amount of damage quickly, so control of these
02:47insects is crucial. This is one of the last perennial plants to emerge from the ground in the spring.
02:53Some varieties may wait until the end of May or early June to begin growth. Even though they are late
02:58to break dormancy, their vigorous growth rate makes up for their late arrival. Cut the plant back to
03:03just a few inches above ground in early spring before the new growth appears. The stems will be
03:08somewhat woody, so a strong pair of loppers or even a small pruning saw may be needed.
03:13The tropical-looking flowers of the rose mallow last only one day or two, but are quickly replaced by
03:19new blooms. If you are tempted to cut a bouquet of these exquisite flowers, don't. They are not suited for
03:25life in a vase. The dinner plate-sized flowers, even though they are short-lived, are loved by
03:31butterflies and hummingbirds. Plus, they're often ignored by grazing deer. Hibiscus is also friendly
03:37with other perennial plants that love full sun and moist soil. Mix and match the following plants for
03:43spring to fall bloom. So now you have the know-how to grow these show-stopping hardy perennials.
03:51Until next time, happy gardening!
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