Native Plants

Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

Enter a Plant Name:
Or choose a plant family:

Cressler, Alan

Hibiscus coulteri

Hibiscus coulteri Harv. ex A. Gray

Desert Rosemallow, Desert Rose-mallow, Coulter Hibiscus

Malvaceae (Mallow Family)

Synonym(s): Hibiscus coulteri var. brevipedunculatus

USDA Symbol: hico

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

Desert rose-mallow or Coulter hibiscus is a handsome ornamental, grown for its showy flowers. Straggling to a width of 2 ft., the slender, woody, flowering stems rise to a height of 5 ft. Large, yellow, cup-shaped flowers, sometimes tinged with red or purple at the base, are borne atop the stems. A shrubby plant with rough hairs, undivided lower leaves, divided upper leaves, and large, cup-shaped, whitish to yellow flowers, often tinged with red.

A humble relative of the brilliant tropical Hibiscus plants, members of a genus that contains almost 300 species.

From the Image Gallery

12 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Flower:
Fruit:
Size Class: 3-6 ft.

Bloom Information

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

Distribution

USA: AZ , NM , TX
Native Distribution: W. TX to s. AZ & adjacent Mex.
Native Habitat: Rocky slopes; steep, canyon walls

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Dry, rocky soils.
Conditions Comments: Drought tolerant. This plant should be cut back nearly to the base each winter to encourage a bushier habit and more blooms. Coulter hibiscus flowers during the hottest part of the season when other plants are not showy. It is short-lived, but reseeds freely.

Benefit

Use Wildlife: Deer browse this plant.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Propagation

Description: Will germinate from fresh, untreated seed planted in spring after last frost. Very easily grown from softwood cuttings taken from summer to fall.
Seed Collection: Gather seeds as soon as capsules begin to dry. Air dry and separate seeds from capsules. Fumigate and store in ventilated containers in cool, dry place.
Seed Treatment: Not Available
Commercially Avail: yes

Research Literature

Reslit 778 - Consequences of hydrochory in Hibiscus (2006) H. Kudoh, R. Shimamura, K. Takayama and D. F. Whig...
Reslit 1453 - Effect of plant growth retardants on stem elongation of hibiscus species (2003) R. M. Warner and J. E. Erwin
Reslit 1454 - Effect of photoperiod and daily light integral on flowering of five Hibiscus species (2003) R. M. Warner and J. E. Erwin
Reslit 2101 - Effects of El-500 on Height and Lateral Shoot Development of Hibiscus coccineus Walt (1984) J. Fielek
Reslit 2694 - Our hardy Hibiscus species as ornamentals (1970) H. F. Winters

This information was provided by the Florida WIldflower Foundation.
Search More Titles in Research Literature

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2015-10-05
Research By: TWC Staff

Go back