2026 Plant of the Year, Honorable Mention

Proposed by: a member of The Gertrude Windsor Garden Club, Zone IX

Hibiscus coccineus provides nectar to the Rose-mallow Bee and Ruby-throated hummingbirds. The plant hosts caterpillars of gray hairstreak butterflies, painted yellow butterflies, and several moths and skippers: pearly wood nymph, yellow scallop moth, lo moth, and delightful bird-dropping moths. Hibiscus coccineus is tolerant of deer and is fairly pest resistant.

Hibiscus coccineus is sometimes called swamp hibiscus because it is native to marshes and swamps in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. Hibiscus coccineus is indigenous to Coastal Plain ditches, edges of brackish or freshwater swamps, marshes and low soggy margins of rivers or ponds.This plant may be used for erosion control. Its hardiness is largely due to the ability to filter water and fix excess nutrients like nitrogen that may be present in the water into a form that is usable to other plants. This makes the area not only cleaner and more liveable for the hibiscus itself but also for other plants and organisms, such as fish, that live nearby in the water. In fact, some ecological reconstruction companies utilize scarlet rosemallow to help rebuild native wetlands to mimic natural functions, such as water filtration.

Hibiscus coccineus blooms from June until September. It is a vigorous sun loving perennial that will also grow in part shade. This plant is somewhat drought resistant once well established in the garden and is excellent for adding bold color to a perennial garden. The vibrant white and scarlet flowers make them a valuable pond plant that is held in high esteem.