Tammy SonsFounder/CEO, TN Nursery · CEO TN Nursery

Growing Swamp Rose Mallow For Rain Gardens #rosemallow #nativeperennials #gardening #tnnursery

12 Aug 2025 · 2 min

Watch on YouTube

2:06

In this short video, Bailey from TN Nursery introduces the Swamp Rosemallow (Hibiscus moscheutos), a native wetland perennial of eastern North America. The plant produces large, showy blooms 6‑12 inches wide (up to a foot on mature plants) in pink, rose, white, bicolor, or deep‑red‑centered forms, blooming midsummer to early fall. It attracts hummingbirds, bees, butterflies and serves as a host for the Common Checkered Skipper. The species thrives in full sun with wet or periodically flooded soils, making it ideal for rain gardens, water gardens, and containers. It is hardy in USDA zones 5‑9, reaches 4‑7 ft in a single season, and has large harp‑shaped leaves. Flowers open in the morning, close by evening, each lasting about a week with daily renewal. The root system survives freezing winters, resprouting each spring. Deer and rabbit resistance is high. Native Americans historically used parts of the plant medicinally. Seeds are wind‑dispersed, aiding wetland colonization.

Chapters

Hey guys, it's Bailey with TN Nursery, and today I'm going to show you our Swamp Rosemallow. Uh, they're native to wetlands and marshes in eastern North America. They produce huge showy blooms that can be 6 to 12 inches across. These are our younger plants, and they're about 6 to 7 inches across, the blooms are, but next year they will reach probably up to a foot. Across. The flowers come in shades of pink, rose, white, or bicolor, even a deep red center. They bloom from midsummer to early fall, providing late-season color. They attract hummingbirds, bees, butterflies with its nectar-rich flowers. It is a host plant for the Common Checkered Skipper butterfly. It thrives in full sun and wet soil. It tolerates occasional flooding, and it's perfect for rain gardens. Despite its tropical appearance, it's hardy to USDA zones 5 through 9. It can grow up to 4 to 7 feet tall in a single season. Its leaves are large and harp-shaped or oval, adding lush texture to gardens. The flowers open in the morning and typically close by the evening. Each bloom lasts about a week, but new flowers appear daily. The root systems can survive freezing winters, winters, excuse me, freezing winters, sprouting new stems each season. Deers and rabbits hardly ever bother it. Native Americans use parts of the plants for native, uh, medical purposes. The seeds are carried by the wind, helping colonize wetlands. It's perfect in a water garden, and it even keeps well in container gardens.