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Tropical hibiscus and Swamp rose mallow: growing conditions and wildlife benefits.

COMMON CHOICE Tropical hibiscus Hibiscus rosa-sinensis	NATIVE ALTERNATIVE Swamp rose mallow Hibiscus moscheutos
	GO NATIVE
Native range
Asia	Southeastern Canada; central and eastern United States; northeastern MexicoSee state guides
Sunlight
Full sun to part shade	Full sun
Soil moisture
Moist, well-drained soil	Moist to wet
Mature height
4–10 ft	2–6 ft
Mature spread
5–8 ft	2–5 ft
USDA hardiness zones
9–11	4–9
Season of interest
Spring–fall	Summer–early fall
Garden & wildlife value
Flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies.	Large native flowers feed specialist bees, and standing hollow stems offer nesting places.
Growing notes
An evergreen tropical shrub. In colder climates it needs a container and frost-free winter protection.	A winter-dormant perennial for consistently moist to wet soil; choose the species if local native ancestry matters to your garden.
Growing information	Growing information

Sizes describe the species; individual cultivars can differ.