Rose Mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos) on the Bleecker Street side of Coles Sports Center, 181 Mercer Street.

NYU Garden Shop Plant of the Week--July 12, 2011
Rose Mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos) on the Bleecker Street side of Coles Sports Center, 181 Mercer Street.

NYU Garden Shop Plant of the Week
By Head Gardener, George Reis
Tuesday July 12, 2011

Rose Mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos) on the Bleecker Street side of Coles Sports Center, 181 Mercer Street.

In our region, when we think of Hibiscus, we usually think of tropical plants or the commonly planted small tree or shrub Rose of Sharon. But did you know there's a Hibiscus native to our region, and that it's in flower right now on Bleecker Street at Coles Sports Center? Rose Mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos) grows naturally in marshes and shores from Massachusetts to Wisconsin and south to Texas and Florida. We planted these Rose Mallows about 3 years ago, and they're really coming into their own this year. They reach a height of 4-7 feet and prefer full sun and soil that never really dries out in summer. Don't be worried if you don't see signs of life on this plant in spring, as they typically emerge in early summer. They rarely need to be divided and are long lived, producing large white to pink flowers. In zones colder than Manhattan, it's a good idea to give the plant a think layer of mulch to help it overwinter. We grew our Hibiscus from potted plants, but you can grow them easily from seed. We'll have plenty of seeds to give away in the fall, so let me know if you're interested!

Previous Plants of the Week:

Dense Blazing Star
July 5, 2011
Dense Blazing Star (Liatris spicata) in Mercer Plaza, 251 Mercer Street.

Wild Bergamot
June 28, 2011
Wild Bergamot (Monarda spp.) on the west side of Coles Sports Center, 181 Mercer Street.

Hearts of Gold Redbud
June 21, 2011
Hearts of Gold Redbud (Cercis canadensis 'Hearts of Gold') in the west section of the Bleecker Street sidewalk at #3 Washington Square Village.

Russian Sage
June 15, 2011
Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) in the middle section of the Bleecker Street sidewalk between #3 and #4 Washington Square Village.

Oakleaf Hydrangea
June 8, 2011
Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) in the lobby garden at #3 Washington Square Village.

Wild Indigo
May 31, 2011
Wild Indigo (Baptisia Australis) in Mercer Plaza, 251 Mercer Street.

Arkansas Blue Star
May 24, 2011
Arkansas Blue Star (Amsonia hubrichtii) on the west side of Coles Sports Center, 181 Mercer St.

Sunny Knock Out Rose
May 17, 2011
Sunny Knock Out Rose (Rosa 'Radsunny') at 251 Mercer St.

Red Ruby Swiss Chard
May 10, 2011
Red Ruby Swiss Chard (Beta vulgaris 'Ruby Chard') sidewalk planters on Greene Street between W 4th Street and Washington Place.

Wild Columbine
May 3, 2011
Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) at Founders Hall, 120 East 12th St.

Japanese Flowering Cherry
April 25, 2011
Japanese Flowering Cherry (Prunus serrulata), or 'Kwanzan,' on the Bleecker Street side of Cole Sports Center, 181 Mercer Street.

Saucer Magnolia
April 19, 2011
Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia x soulangiana)   

Daffodil
April 12, 2011
Daffodil (Narcissus spp.) in the sidewalk median at 100 Bleecker Street.

Lenten Rose
April 5, 2011
Lenten Rose (Helleborus x hybridus) in the sidewalk median at 100 Bleecker Street.

Camellia
March 29, 2011
Camellia 'April Remembered' (Camellia japonica 'April Remembered') at Coles Sports Center, 181 Mercer Street.

Japanese Maple
Mar 22, 2011 
Coral Bark Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum 'Sango Kaku') at Glucksman Ireland House

Hamamelis
Mar 18, 2011 
NYU Garden Shop Plant of the Week---Witch-hazel (Hamamelis x intermedia) at #2 Washington Square Village Lobby Garden. (interior of Washington Square Village, W 3rd Street just west of Mercer)

Crocus Species
Mar 8, 2011
Crocus species mix on Bleecker Street side of NYU Coles Sports Center

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