Hibiscus coccineus

Hibiscus coccineus, also known as Scarlet Hibiscus or Texas Star, is a perennial herbaceous plant as spectacular as it is easy to grow in full sun in waterlogged soil in summer. It develops and blooms within a few months, offering large, remarkable, ephemeral red flowers at eye level in summer. It also stands out in autumn with its beautiful yellow foliage. It has a preference for long hot summers, which does not prevent it from surviving severe frost if the soil dries out a little. Absolutely stunning at the edge of a pond, it also thrives in large containers kept very moist on a terrace.

Hibiscus coccineus (synonym Hibiscus semilobatus) is a perennial herbaceous plant with a woody base. It belongs to the Malvaceae family, related to mallow and rose mallow. It is native to the marshes of the southern United States, particularly Florida and Georgia, where it often exceeds 2 m (6.6 ft) in height. In our climates, this scarlet hibiscus produces straight, upright stems every year, quite late in spring, forming a somewhat loose clump 1.5 m to 2 m (4.9 ft to 6.6 ft) tall and almost as wide.

This deciduous plant has compound leaves 10 cm to 15 cm (3.9 in to 5.9 in) wide, finely divided into 5 to 7 narrow lobes, toothed at the edges and pointed at their tips. The foliage is bright green and can resemble hemp or Japanese maple leaves. Towards the end of the season, it takes on lovely yellow and orange hues, especially in warm climates. The flowering period is from July to September, depending on the climate, and lasts about a month. The flower buds appear in clusters at the top of the stems and in the axils of the leaves. They grow and turn red. These buds then open into flat flowers, 15 cm to 20 cm (5.9 in to 7.9 in) in diameter, composed of 5 satin-textured petals ranging from bright red to red-pink, spatulate and well individualised, surrounding a red central column. Each flower lasts only a day, but they renew themselves on the plant day after day. Pollination is carried out by insects. The fruit is a capsule measuring 1 cm to 2.5 cm (0.4 in to 1 in) in diameter.

Marsh hibiscus plants are spectacular and cannot be ignored: some dislike their huge flowers because they can be difficult to integrate into a natural setting, while others love them for the same reasons that make them perfect for a contemporary garden or an exotic scene carefully arranged around a water feature or on a terrace. Hibiscus coccineus bears more elegant flowers than its cousin, Hibiscus moscheutos, and therefore is easier to pair with other plants. It only requires water in summer and is not bothered by watering with hard water, which allows it to be grown in all regions. Growing in pots provides protection, if necessary, from water and severe frost in winter. All marsh hibiscus plants add another dimension to waterlogged beds or pond edges, accompanied by Gunnera, cannas, Ethiopian arum, Rodgersia 'Chocolate Wings', or Colocasia esculenta.