Woolly Rose Mallow (Hibiscus lasiocarpos)

Woolly Rose Mallow (Hibiscus lasiocarpos)

Woolly Rose Mallow is the Gulf South’s native hibiscus of the interior wetlands — a robust perennial with large white to pale pink flowers marked with a deep crimson eye, rising from velvety, woolly-leaved stems along bayou margins, river banks, and freshwater marshes. It is closely related to Swamp Hibiscus but adapted to slightly drier conditions and more interior habitats, making it a versatile choice for Louisiana rain gardens and wet borders.

Botanical Profile

• Family: Malvaceae (Mallow family)
• Native Range: South-central United States from Tennessee to Texas and Florida; native to Louisiana river banks, bayou margins, and freshwater marshes
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5–10
• Mature Size: 4–6 feet tall
• Bloom Time: July–September
• Sun: Full sun to part shade
• Soil: Moist to wet; tolerates clay and periodic flooding

Ecological Role

Woolly Rose Mallow flowers are visited by hummingbirds, giant resin bees, bumble bees, and specialist native bees. It is a larval host for the Gray Hairstreak butterfly and several specialist moth species. Its woolly seed pods provide nesting material for birds and its seeds feed wildlife through winter.

In the Cajun Healing Garden

Part of the Jardin — The Healing Garden collection at Big Mamou Enterprises, Woolly Rose Mallow is a bold, beautiful native perennial that brings the drama of the Louisiana wetland margin into the cultivated garden.