Hibiscus Summerific® 'Cherry Coco Latte' Rose Mallow

A member of the Summerific® Collection from Proven Winners®, Hibiscus 'Cherry Coco Latte' Rose Mallow is a showy herbaceous perennial that flowers from midsummer to late summer. Blooming abundantly and continuously, this compact plant blankets its bronze-highlighted, dark olive-green foliage in masses of 8- to 9-inch tropical-looking flowers. The ruffled white blooms are heavily veined in deep pink and have a dramatic deep-red eye. Borne on slender branches, the nectar- and pollen-rich flowers sustain bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

A Hibiscus hybrid, commonly called rose mallow, 'Cherry Coco Latte' has a vigorous growth rate and a compact, upright, slightly spreading habit of well-branched stems. Hibiscus is slow to emerge in spring but can put on an inch of new growth a day. It is excellent as a specimen in the garden or a thriller in a container, but it is very effective massed or grouped in borders and landscapes or around ponds and streams. It's a great choice for bog gardens and rain gardens.

A cold hardy plant, rose mallow grows best in sunny to part sun locations with fertile, organically rich, moderately moist, well-drained soil but tolerates poor and acidic soils. Keep the plant well-watered to look its best. In spring, cut back any remaining stems before new growth appears. Do not trim back in fall. Add heavy mulch in winter. Deer resistant.

A native plant, rose mallow is indigenous to North America. Native plants are not only beautiful but also environmentally friendly. Naturally adapted to the climate and soil conditions of the region, they thrive without fertilizers or extra watering, once established. They also act as natural pest controls, reducing the need for pesticides in the garden. Landscaping with native plants promotes biodiversity and provides shelter and quality food for wildlife and pollinators, bringing gardens to life.