Hibiscus poeppigii

fairy hibiscus

Malvaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

flower

Size:

1-4 ft tall by 1-3 ft wide

Life Span:

long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

red

Fruit Color:

Phenology:

Noted For:

Showy Flowers

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Wildflower gardens. Hammock restoration.

Considerations:

Light:

Part Sun, Shade

Moisture Tolerance:

Usually moist, occasional inundation ---- to ---- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Lime Rock

Suitable to Grow In:

10B,11

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Butterflies, Caterpillars, Hummingbirds



  • Larval host of  Gray Hairstreak, Painted Lady Butterfly, Common Checkered Skipper and Tropical Checkered Skipper butterflies and  four moths : Pearly Wood Nymph, Yellow Scallop Moth, Io Moth,  and Delightful Bird-Dropping Moths.


  • Attracts butterflies and  native bees (including the Rose-mallow Bee which is a Hibiscus specialist), beetles, etc. 


  • Ants feed on the flower nectar (per Institute for Regional Conservation ).


Attracts hummingbirds.

Native Habitats:

Edges of rockland hammocks.