 Photo from Fort Bend County Master Gardeners, Texas Native Demonstration Garden |
Hibiscus coccineus or Native Red Hibiscus is native in the southern United States but not widely planted. It thrives in fertile, moist soil and full sunlight, with 3-inch red blooms. It grows 4 to 6 feet tall. This southeastern native hibiscus also commonly known as Texas Star. The six to eight inch wide flowers are brilliant red, with petals more separated than those of other hibiscus, giving the blossom a star shaped look. Individual flowers last only a day but new blooms open throughout summer and fall. The leaves are deeply divided into narrow, toothed, finger-like lobes. This plant is often passed along from gardener to gardener. Established plants grow to seven feet each growing season. Plants die back to ground level in winter and resprout in spring. Scarlet swamp hibiscus prefers full sun and moist soil. Naturally occurring in swamps, marshes and ditches, this hibiscus will even tolerate some flooding, although it will also thrive in ordinary garden soil. Divide plants in spring. Plants often self seed from seeds produced in fall.
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