Texas
Wildbuds

Hibiscus laevis

Hibiscus laevis, Arbor Walk Lake, Austin, Travis Co. 1759

Hibiscus laevis, Lake Somerville State Park, Birch Creek, Burleson Co. 9168

Hibiscus laevis, Arbor Walk Lake, Austin, Travis Co. 1754

Hibiscus laevis, Lake Somerville State Park, Birch Creek, Burleson Co. 9177

Hibiscus laevis, Arbor Walk Lake, Austin, Travis Co. 1763

Hibiscus laevis, Lake Somerville State Park, Birch Creek, Burleson Co. 9181

Hibiscus laevis, Lake Somerville State Park, Birch Creek, Burleson Co. 9171

Scientific Name	Hibiscus laevis (Hibiscus militaris)	USDA PLANTS Symbol	HILA2
Common Name	Halberd-leaf Rosemallow	ITIS Taxonomic Serial No.	21632
Family	Malvaceae (Mallow)	SEINet Reference	Click Here
Description	Habitat: Various soils along edges of ponds, streams, marshes, and in floodplain pools and wet roadside ditches. Plant: Tall perennial with smooth stems up to 8 feet long. Leaves: Narrowly to broadly triangular-hastate overall, 2-1/2 to 7 inches long; unlobed or 3-lobed; lobes, especially middle one which is ovate to triangular and up 3 times as long as wide; lobed leaves resemble the medieval halberd spear head weapon; margins crenate-serrate to serrate-dentate and red-tinged; smooth surfaces; thin petioles about half as long as leaves or longer. Inflorescence: Large, solitary flowers in upper leaf axils with funnel-shaped corollas up to 5 inches across; 5 petals are white to light pink, purplish-red at their base; straight pale pink to white stamen column 1 to 1-1/2 inches long; protruding pale pink to white stigmas; green calyx with 5 oval lobes and several linear bracts. Each flower lasts for one day. Bloom Period: Summer and fall. References: Hibiscus militaris in "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston; "Wildflowers of Texas" by Michael Eason, Illinois Wildflowers and SEINet.	BONAP Distribution Map Map Color Key	Texas Status: Native

Banner photo of Castilleja indivisa and Lupinus ssp. taken along FM 1323 north of Johnson City, Blanco County

© Tom Lebsack 2024