Bloomipedia
Swamp rose mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos)
Photo: Tyler Ekholm via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Swamp rose mallow

Hibiscus moscheutos

Native in the lower 48

Swamp rose mallow is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 6 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in July–September.

30states
6of our state lists
20,113U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Virginia

Quick look

Muenchhusia moscheutos, the rose mallow, swamp rose-mallow, crimsoneyed rosemallow, or eastern rosemallow, is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae. It is a cold-hardy perennial wetland plant that can grow in large colonies. The hirsute leaves are of variable morphology, but are commonly deltoidal in shape with up to three lobes.

  • It belongs to the Malvaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) / a subshrub with a annual, perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 30 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Ohio, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, Indiana and Delaware. NatureServe
  • In Ohio, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in July–September. iNaturalist
  • In New Jersey, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in July–September. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as summer. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 6.6 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 2,806 research-grade sightings of it in Ohio, ranking #59 among the 109 flowers on our Ohio list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,993 research-grade sightings of it in New Jersey, ranking #46 among the 110 flowers on our New Jersey list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,861 research-grade sightings of it in Virginia, ranking #91 among the 110 flowers on our Virginia list. iNaturalist

Swamp rose mallow gift ideas

Handmade swamp rose mallow gifts from independent makers.

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When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (3,816 records)
Bloom time in each of our 6 states
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
OhioNativeJuly–September2,806
New JerseyNativeJuly–September1,993
VirginiaNativeJuly–September1,861
MarylandNativeJuly–September1,755
IndianaNativeJuly–September1,373
DelawareNativeJuly–September421

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Ohio
Not listed Not on Ohio endangered and threatened plants (Ohio Adm. Code 1501:18-1-03, eff. Dec. 26, 2024). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Ohio. OAC 1501:18-1-03
New Jersey
Not listed Not on New Jersey Endangered Plant Species List (N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in New Jersey. N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1
Virginia
Not listed Not on Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10). NatureServe: S5, secure in Virginia. 2VAC5-320-10
Maryland
Not listed Not on Maryland threatened and endangered plants (COMAR 08.03.08.05, .06 and .08). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Maryland. COMAR 08.03.08
Indiana
No list Indiana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the DNR keeps a rare plant list, but it isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Indiana ranks instead. NatureServe: SU, unrankable in Indiana.
Delaware
Not listed Not on Rare and Uncommon Plants of Delaware (DNREC, 2024; informational, Delaware has no state plant-protection list). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Delaware. DE rare plants 2024
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets. For context only: ASPCA lists a related species, Hibiscus syriacus (“Hibiscus”), as non-toxic to dogs and cats. That doesn't tell us about this species, so keep pets away to be safe. ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records swamp rose mallow in 30 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin; District of Columbia.

Ohio counties with USDA records: Ashtabula, Butler, Carroll, Coshocton, Cuyahoga, Erie, Fairfield, Gallia, Geauga, Guernsey, Henry, Highland, Holmes, Jackson, Lake, Lawrence, Licking, Lorain, Lucas, Mahoning, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Ottawa, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Richland, Ross, Sandusky, Scioto, Seneca, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Vinton, Warren, Washington.

New Jersey counties with USDA records: Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, Union.

Virginia counties with USDA records: Accomack, Albemarle, Amelia, Amherst, Augusta, Bedford, Botetourt, Brunswick, Buckingham, Campbell, Caroline, Charles City, Charlotte, Chesapeake , Chesterfield, Clarke, Culpeper, Cumberland, Essex, Fairfax, Fauquier, Fluvanna, Frederick, Gloucester, Goochland, Greensville, Halifax, Hampton , Hanover, Henrico, Isle of Wight, James City, King George, King William, King and Queen, Lancaster, Madison, Mathews, Mecklenburg, Middlesex, Nelson, New Kent, Newport News , Northampton, Northumberland, Nottoway, Orange, Pittsylvania, Powhatan, Prince Edward, Prince George, Prince William, Pulaski, Richmond, Roanoke, Shenandoah, Smyth, Southampton, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Suffolk , Surry, Sussex, Virginia Beach , Warren, Washington, Westmoreland, Wythe, York.

More Ohio flowers

Common hibiscus (Hibiscus syriacus)

Common hibiscus

Hibiscus syriacus

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Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti)

Velvetleaf

Abutilon theophrasti

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🌼 Blooms: July–October
Roses (genus Rosa) (Rosa)

Roses (genus Rosa)

Rosa

★ NY state flower🌷 Garden flower

🌼 Blooms in OH: May–July

Sources