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Oklahoma Gardening

need to ID a hardy {native?} hibiscus-no pics!

17 years ago

I was at the lake this weekend, and came across this hibiscus covered in seedpods. It was a creamy white (not yellow) with a red eye and red brushed on the backs of the base petals. The weird thing was the leaves. They were long, thin, and tri-lobed, almost like a bird's foot. I've tried Googling these, but haven't been able to find anything. I don't have any pics.

Does anyone have any ideas?

HW

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Comments (6)

susanlynne48
17 years ago
Sounds like Hibiscus trionum to me. Beautiful plant IMHO. Did you cop some seeds? I hope so!

Susan

Here is a link that might be useful: Hibiscus Trionum
hedgwytch
Original Author
17 years ago
Susan,

That's what I thought at first, too, but the seeds are completely different. These seeds aren't hairy like the trionum, but covered with a really really fine peach fuzz. (Ask me how I know??) ;o9 The flowers on this really looked more of the size and shape of the tropical hibiscus with a really twisty woody stem. The color was exactly like the trionum, though.

Thanks for the idea, though!

HW
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Webcat Either the red or the burgundy. I've got pink ones, one is a very pale pink with a white eye, the other is pink with a red eye. I've got so many seeds of the pink with the white eye that I finally started dead heading them, so no seed pods would develop. I snatched a few seed pods of a burgundy one last year or the year before, but it has not flowered yet. I've also got seeds of Texas star hibiscus, that is really growing slowly this year. I wonder do they peter out after a few years? I started white texas star last winter sowing season, wintered them over in a holding bed and one is setting a flower now, but it looks very spindly. I'm hoping to get seeds from it before the season is over. The reds that you have shown are just to drool for, LOL. They are absolutely georgous!! So if you have some seeds for either red, please keep me in mind. Alberta
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susanlynne48
17 years ago
While it could be H. aculeatus, H. cannabinus, or H. laevii, it looks like it might be H. dasycalyx. I'm giving you a link to it. It also has the hairy seed pods and is sometimes referred to as "duckfoot" hibiscus.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hibiscus species
susanlynne48
17 years ago
Okay, I don't think this one is it, but I'll link to it just in case. H. cannabinus is another plant with young leaves resembling a duck foot also. However, as the plant matures, the leaves, as the name suggests, resemble cannabis.

Susan

Here is a link that might be useful: H. Cannabinis
hedgwytch
Original Author
17 years ago
Susan,

Sorry not to get back with you sooner...I was out of town. I think you nailed it with the H. dasycalyx! Not 100% sure, but if it's not, it's darn close! I've got lots of seeds, though!

I had taken a couple of seed pods, then caught my 11 yo dd over there gathering handfuls of pods! LOL! She told me we had to have this hibiscus in our yard. Isn't that great?? I told her not to take too many-she'd strip it if I've let her! Now I've just got to clean them up.

I also picked up some honeyball bush ball-things, but I'm not sure exactly what part are the seeds. Got any ideas? They almost look like dried up monarda heads, but smaller. And they come apart like gaillarda. I think that part is the seeds. But, I want to be sure.

HW
susanlynne48
17 years ago
Honeyball bush aka Buttonbush aka Cephalanthus occidentalis. Great butterfly nectar plant, might even host a promethea moth (silk moth). However, this is a marsh plant. Practically needs standing water to survive.

Good luck with it! If it grows for you and you have the conditions for it, you will attract lots of butterflies.

Here is some info on the seeds and what they look like. Apparently each little nutball contains 2 seeds.
Susan

Here is a link that might be useful: Buttonbush-Cephalanthus Occidentalis

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