Desert Rosemallow (Hibiscus coulteri)
Description: Desert rose-mallow or Coulter hibiscus is a handsome ornamental, grown for its showy flowers. Straggling to a width of 2 ft., the slender, woody, flowering stems rise to a height of 5 ft. Large, yellow, cup-shaped flowers, sometimes tinged with red or purple at the base, are borne atop the stems. A shrubby plant with rough hairs, undivided lower leaves, divided upper leaves, and large, cup-shaped, whitish to-yellow flowers, often tinged with red. A humble relative of the brilliant tropical Hibiscus plants, members of a genus that contains almost 300 species.
Family: Malvaceae
Synonym(s): Hibiscus coulteri var. brevipedunculatus
USDA Symbol: HICO
Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Size Class: 3-6 ft.
Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
Water Use: Low
Light Requirements: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Bloom Notes: Conditions Comments: Drought tolerant. This plant should be cut back nearly to the base each winter to encourage a bushier habit and more blooms. Coulter hibiscus flowers during the hottest part of the season when other plants are not showy. It is short-lived, but reseeds freely.
ATTRIBUTION: All of the Texas Wildflower images in this post are copyrighted and are the exclusive property of Terry B. Kahler. Reproduction without explicit written consent is prohibited. Some of the information contained in this section was taken from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center website and is being used under their terms of use. Redistribution from this site is prohibited. Additional information contained in this section was taken from the USDA website including the USDA code.
