Native Plant Database

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Size Class: 3-6 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Pink , Yellow
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov

Distribution

USA: TX
Native Distribution: In TX, from Edwards Plateau through Rio Grande Plains to adjacent Mex.
Native Habitat: Dry, rocky woods and slopes. Pastures, Savannahs, Ditches, Ravines, Depressions Open woodlands.
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)
Cold Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Prefers well-drained, limestone soils. Also Medium Loam Rocky, Limestone-based, Sandy, Sandy Loam, Clay Loam, Clay, Caliche type.
Conditions Comments: Herbaceous stems rise from a woody base. Pink hibiscus-like flowers. Velvety, scalloped leaves. The flowers attract hummingbirds.
Texas comments: Rock rose has pink hibiscus-like flowers that are often browsed by deer. It requires little care once established, but it does respond well to light pruning.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Pavonia makes an excellent choice for landscaping. Able to survive the summer heat, its profusion of brilliant flowers adds a colorful touch to a dry landscape. Attractive, Blooms ornamental, Easily grown, Perennial garden.
Use Wildlife: Nectar-butterflies, Nectar-moths, Hummingbirds.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Hummingbirds
Deer Resistant: Moderate

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds , Softwood Cuttings
Description: Sow and lightly cover seed with soil. Pavonia can also be propagated from softwood tip cuttings. Take cuttings in spring before plant starts to bloom, or on nursery plants kept cut back. Cuttings with big buds or blooms are at a disadvantage. They root and grow fast in hot weather. Cut a stem three to six inches long, just below the node. Remove all but the top leaves and place in vermiculite.
Seed Collection: Seeds can be collected from the capsule when it turns brown, but before it becomes dry and splits. Spread in thin layers to thoroughly air-dry. Dust with Sevin dust and store in ventilated containers at room temperature. Will remain viable up to two years.
Seed Treatment: Germination may be staggered due to differences in seed coat thickness. More uniform germination rates may be achieved by first soaking the seeds in hot water.
Commercially Avail: yes
Maintenance: Cut back the shrub each year to encourage bushy growth. It may tend to become leggy during the growing season, so additional pruning may be necessary. Water intermittently to ensure blooming. Mildew is unavoidable - sometimes more sun seems to make it go away, sometimes not.

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Mr. Smarty Plants says

Question: Hi! I have one (big!) bed in on the front of my house. Due to the way the house/motorcourt is built, that area (when it rains as much as it did last year!) doesn't drain well. I now have to replace some of my 'back ground' bedding plants. I am looking for something that grows 6-8 feet, and is evergreen. That part of the bed is in shade in the morning, but receives afternoon sun (not direct sun, however). It would also be good if it didn't require much water, as we are trying (very hard) to limit watering (for ecological reasons). All other plants (that survived) are native Texas plants. Bonus points if it has some time of color (berries, flowers, or changing leaves). I hope I haven't asked for too much!
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Question: Few weeks ago I sent you a letter but never got an answer back. I would like to have your suggestions of native plants for a butterfly garden (30'x 30') here in Waco. The plants must be (1)drought and heat tolerant, (2) perennial flowers, (3) trees and bushes. Thank you very much for your attention. Sincerely yours, Ken-Hsi Wang
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Question: I live in San Antonio. I'm faced with a dilemma. I've got mature native pecans. In the summer they provide beautiful full shade. However, in the winter and even into the late spring, my yard is in full blazing sun. Since pecans leaf out so much later than all other trees, this full blazing sun lasts into the late spring. This is a real dilemma for shade loving plants. However, the summer shade presents a problem for sun loving plants. The problem is worse in the spring, when it is getting hot What can I plant that will bloom at least in early spring, or at a time before my pecans leaf out. This year, I planted Hinkley's Columbine, but it ended up rotting. I don't think it is well adapted to San Antonio. The appearance of the sun loving plants under the shade doesn't bother me. It is the shade loving plants under the blazing sun that suffer. I was thinking of possibly Salvia coccinia? It seems like it blooms as soon as the the last frost. I've also considered Pavonia. (Although some of these plants may not bloom in the summer shade, I don't think it will "hurt" the plant to be in summer shade.) Are there any other spring blooming plants that do well in sun, but can tolerate summer shade?
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Question: Good day, I am searching for a list of native Texas flowers (preferably perennials) for a flower garden. Thank you.
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From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Texas Discovery Gardens - Dallas, TX
Sibley Nature Center - Midland, TX
Brackenridge Field Laboratory - Austin, TX
Native Plant Society of Texas - Fredericksburg, TX

Bibliography

Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest (1991) Miller, G. O.
Native & Naturalized Woody Plants of Austin & the Hill Country (1981) Lynch, D.
* Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Texas Wildflowers: A Field Guide (1984) Loughmiller, C. & L. Loughmiller
Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender
Trees of Central Texas (1984) Vines, Robert A.
* Wildflowers of Texas (2003) Ajilvsgi, Geyata.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Pavonia lasiopetala in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Pavonia lasiopetala in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Pavonia lasiopetala