These plants were purchase over ten years ago at a farmers market, and were described merely as "rose mallow." I want to find more, but I'm not sure they were correctly identified. If they were, I want to match the type.

They are perennials that start in late spring as long stalks (coming up from the exact location as the previous years), then bloom through the late summer and early fall. Then the stalks (3' - 4') dry and become brittle. New stalks emerge in the spring and I break off the old stalks.

The rose mallow I see in most photographs, and in books, have oval leaves and are described as bush-like (as opposed to my cluster of long stalks).

Mine have trident-shaped leaves... so I'm guessing they aren't the same as some I've seen. Pictures of mine are below.

I want to add to my grouping, but I'm unsure how to match them. The closest thing I'm finding seems to be Swamp Rose Mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos), but most (not all) pictures show them as oval-leaved bushes. I'm guessing a lot of people are mislabeling these, one way or the other.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

It very well could be Hibiscus moscheutos. Leaf shape with hibiscus can vary by both variety & age of the plant - sometimes just being slightly variable at any given time, so judging solely by pics you look up can possibly add to the confusion.

Another possibility could be Lavatera trimestris, though, I'm not certain of that. It's definitely a mallow of some sort (but sounds like you probably knew that much already ).

Carter said:Another possibility could be Lavatera trimestris, though, I'm not certain of that. It's definitely a mallow of some sort (but sounds like you probably knew that much already ).

Thanks!

There does appear to be a lot of variation in the leaf shape for mallows. Either that, or people are mislabeling their photos.

Looks like I should be able to "clone" mine, either from cuttings or by dividing them next spring, if I'm willing to risk that:

I think I have one that I'm willing to risk taking a cutting from now.

BTW, I'm pretty sure it's not Lavatera trimestris, because that's apparently an annual. The ones I have put out new shoots from the identical base each year.

Thanks again.

It looks like one of the Hardy Hibiscus hybrids that include Hibiscus moscheutos in their parentage. Their leaves can be highly variable because they have genes from two or more species.