Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
1 rating

Friday - July 15, 2011

From: Dallas, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Non-Natives, Herbs/Forbs
Title: Is Hibiscus coccineus still considered native in Dallas, TX?
Answered by: Jimmy Mills & Joe Marcus

QUESTION:

Is Hibiscus coccineus still considered native?. I recently was told by someone with the Native Texas Plant Society that it was no longer thought to have crossed the Sabine naturally. Thoughts?Thank you,

ANSWER:

Hibiscus coccineus (Scarlet rose-mallow), even though one of its common names is Texas Star Hibiscus, is not considered a Texas native. It is sometimes commonly called swamp hibiscus because it is native to marshes and swamps in Alabama, Georgia and Florida (Missouri Botanical Garden). It’s USDA Plants Profile shows it to be distributed in the Southeastern US only as far west as Louisiana.

 

From the Image Gallery


Scarlet rosemallow
Hibiscus coccineus

Scarlet rosemallow
Hibiscus coccineus

More Herbs/Forbs Questions

Flowers that open during the day from Webster NY
August 17, 2011 - Can you provide some information on flowers and plants that open during day with some examples.
view the full question and answer

Wide appearance of Texas Bluebells in Hillsboro TX
July 07, 2011 - I thought Texas Bluebells were rare, endangered and liked wet places. So why, after at least a dozen years of not seeing any and during this horrible drought am I seeing them where I have never seen t...
view the full question and answer

Winter care of Asclepias tuberosa from Austin
October 31, 2013 - We have several asclepias tuberosa (Butterflyweed). Monarch caterpillars have found and denuded them. We are excited about all of the Monarch caterpillars, but unsure of what to do next. What do we...
view the full question and answer

Plants for full sun and clay soil in NY
May 06, 2008 - We live in upstate new york( zone 5) with full sun and clay soil. What flowers/flowering shrubs would be successful in this environment?
view the full question and answer

Transplant shock in Dakota mock vervain
July 23, 2007 - We just planted some Verbena bipinnatifida in our back yard and when we planted it, it had purple flowers on it but now they've all dried up. We live in central Colorado and thought this plant was fa...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.